For those of you who are curious or who (unfortunately) have a need to know, here is a post on the rituals of Jewish mourning:
In Judaism, shiv'ah or shiva (Hebrew: שבעה ; "seven") is the week-long period of grief and mourning for parents, children, siblings and spouses. Regular activity is interrupted, the process of following the shiv'ah ritual is referred to as sitting shiva. Shiva is part of a variety of customs involved in Jewish bereavement.
Flowers are not part of Jewish mourning practice. The tradition in Judaism is to keep funerals as simple as possible, to make everyone equal in death. Although flowers are not prohibited, the custom arose over time of not sending flowers, and making charitable contributions instead. In ancient days, the Talmud states that fragrant flowers and spices were used at the funeral to offset the odor of the decaying body. Today, this is no longer essential and thus, many Jews do not use them at funerals at all. Most feel it is much better to honor the deceased by making a contribution to a synagogue or
hospital, or to a medical research association for the disease which afflicted the deceased. In many opinions, this method of tribute is more lasting and meaningful.
It is considered a great mitzvah (a commandment) to pay a home visit to the mourners. Traditionally, no greetings are exchanged and visitors wait for the mourners to initiate conversation. Once mourners initiate conversation, it is appropriate for visitors to talk about the deceased, sharing stories of his or her life. The visitor should be sensitive, letting the mourner choose the topic of conversation.
There are many mourning customs for traditionally observant Jews. On the first day, it is customary for mourners not to eat their own food. The first meal, which is called the seudat havra'ah (Hebrew: סעודת הבראה ; "meal of comforting"), is supplied by neighbors and friends. The mourners do not bathe or shower for pleasure, do not wear leather shoes and/or jewelry, men do not shave, and in many communities mourners keep any household mirrors covered. Marital relations and Torah study are not permitted. No public mourning may occur on Shabbat, nor may the burial take place on Shabbat, but the day of Shabbat does count toward the seven-day period. However, "private" mourning restrictions continue during the Sabbath. It is customary for the mourners to sit on low stools, or even the floor, symbolic of the emotional reality of being "brought low" by the grief. Typically, mourners do not return to work until the end of the week of mourning.
After the completion of the shiv'ah, activity gradually returns to normal, although the mourners continue to recite the mourner's kaddish as part of synagogue services for a month (11 months for a parent), and there are restrictions on attending weddings and other festive gatherings, especially where live music is played.
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