confused about neighbors

[bostonlass]

Hi:wave: Happy Rosh Hashanna!!! Our town gets the next two days off,...otherwise I wouldn't have a clue about this holiday.

Anyhoo...wondered if y'all could help me out here. My neighbors across the street have had people over all night long and originally I thought they were celebrating the holiday when suddenly it dawned on me that everyone is dressed up in black.

Well......they had the father's mother living at the house and about last week or so an ambulance took her away.

So.....................what's your guess....are they sittin' shivah (no clue if I spelled that right) or celebrating Rosh Hashanna?

I'd ask them directly but I don't want to look like a complete idiot.:sorry:

[Wags]

Well they could be mourning - althoug traditionally you do not mourn during the High Holidays. Or they could be just wearing their best clothes - which happen to be black.

You could just ask them, "I saw you had a large numbers of (somber looking?) visitors last evening, did something happen to your mother?" That way you will know for sure, and can extend your condolences if need be.

[Bon]

Hi:wave: Happy Rosh Hashanna!!! Our town gets the next two days off,...otherwise I wouldn't have a clue about this holiday.

Anyhoo...wondered if y'all could help me out here. My neighbors across the street have had people over all night long and originally I thought they were celebrating the holiday when suddenly it dawned on me that everyone is dressed up in black.

Well......they had the father's mother living at the house and about last week or so an ambulance took her away.

So.....................what's your guess....are they sittin' shivah (no clue if I spelled that right) or celebrating Rosh Hashanna?

I'd ask them directly but I don't want to look like a complete idiot.:sorry:

Sounds like the mother died and they are in mourning.

I am assuming that they are a Jewish family?

Wags!!!...do Jews wear black when someone dies?

Bon

[MyZz]

Shana Tovah all:)
In my grans family everyone wore/wears black when a family member dies and if they are a close relative you wear black for a whole year,but they are catholics;)

[Wags]

Wags!!!...do Jews wear black when someone dies?

Bon

Well orthodox tend to wear black suits all the time. Funerals usually just mean a nice dark suit. A widow may wear a black dress, but isn't required to. Usually there is a piece of torn clothing - a pocket on a shirt or the like if the person who died was a close relative. Or a black ribbon that has been torn is worn.

By the way - don't send flowers, its considered inappropriate.

You can read up on the customs of Jewish death and mourning here: http://www.uscj.org/Guide_to_Jewish_Fune6211.html (This is a conservative view point as opposed to orthodox which is more strict, or reform which is a lot more liberal.)

[bostonlass]

I don't feel comfortable just going over there and asking so I'll have my daughter find out when school is back in session on Thursday. They're daughter is in my daughter's class. I'm so bad at these social situations. Although our daughters are close we're not.


Thanks for all the info!