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What to Do When a Loved One Passes Away
Your Go-To Guide to Planning a Jewish Funeral and Shiva
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences anyone can face. In Jewish tradition, funeral and shiva planning must happen quickly — burial typically takes place within 24–48 hours of death. Knowing what steps to take, who to call, and how to organize shiva can feel overwhelming in those first moments of grief.
If you are asking yourself:
- What do I do when someone passes away?
- How do I plan a Jewish funeral?
- How do I organize shiva and notify the community?
This guide will walk you through the most important steps — and show how SittingShivah.com can help you organize everything with clarity and care.
Step 1: Contact a Jewish Funeral Home and Cemetery Immediately
The first and most urgent step after a death is to contact a Jewish funeral home.
Jewish burial traditions emphasize prompt burial, so funeral homes help families quickly coordinate:
- Transportation of the deceased
- Burial arrangements at a Jewish cemetery
- Taharah (ritual preparation)
- Scheduling the funeral service
- Coordinating with clergy and synagogue leadership
Tip: Many synagogues already work closely with local Jewish funeral homes and cemeteries.
Related Resource
➡️ Learn more about organizing shiva details in one place:
SittingShivah.com – How to Plan a Shiva
Step 2: Contact Your Rabbi or Synagogue Leader
Once funeral arrangements are in motion, your next call should be to your rabbi or synagogue.
A rabbi will guide you through Jewish mourning customs, including:
- Funeral service traditions
- Burial prayers and timing
- Shiva observance
- Reciting Kaddish
- Supporting the family through mourning
Synagogues also help coordinate community support, including meal trains and attendance.
Searching for “contact rabbi after death” or “Jewish mourning customs” is common — and your local synagogue is there to help.
Step 3: Organize Shiva and Notify the Community with SittingShivah.com
After funeral details are confirmed, families must prepare for shiva — the traditional Jewish mourning period when friends and community gather to provide comfort.
This is where SittingShivah.com becomes an essential tool.
SittingShivah Helps Families:
✅ Create a complete announcement for funeral & shiva details
✅ Notify friends, family, and the wider community
✅ Coordinate visitor schedules and ensure you have a Minyan
✅ Provide addresses, service times, and real-time updates
✅ Organize method for loved ones to send food & flowers
✅ Reduce stress during an overwhelming time
Instead of managing dozens of phone calls, texts, and emails, SittingShivah gives you one organized place to communicate everything clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you do immediately after a Jewish death? Contact a Jewish funeral home right away. Jewish tradition calls for burial within 24–48 hours, so prompt action is important. Your rabbi or synagogue can also guide you through the next steps.
How do I notify people about a shiva? SittingShivah.com lets you create a free shiva event page with all the details — dates, times, addresses, and updates — that you can share with family and friends in one link.
How long does shiva last? Shiva traditionally lasts seven days, beginning after the burial. Many modern families observe a shortened shiva of three days. Shabbat counts as one of the seven days but public mourning is paused during that time.
Do non-Jewish friends attend shiva? Absolutely. Non-Jewish friends are warmly welcome at shiva. Simply follow the lead of the mourners, wait for them to initiate conversation, and offer your presence and condolences.