What is the term for the 7-day mourning period that begins the day of burial?

• A. Shomer
• B. Shivah
• C. Tallith
• D. Shabbat

Answer: (B)

Shivah is the seven-day mourning period that begins the day of burial in Jewish tradition. The term comes from the Hebrew word for seven, signaling the duration of the grieving period set aside for close family. During this time, mourners commonly stay at home, receive visitors, sit on low stools or the floor, and recite Kaddish as they begin to process the loss. The period lasts for seven days and marks the structured phase of mourning after the burial. The other terms refer to different concepts: a shomer is the person who guards the body before burial, a tallith is the prayer shawl worn during services, and Shabbat is the weekly day of rest.