How Should a Mourner Feel?

Jewish law is filled with teachings about how to mourn.

We cover the mirrors, we eat round foods at shiva, we don't wear new clothes, we avoid social gatherings, we sit on low stools, we say kaddish, and much more. Amidst all of the rituals, though, is a message about how we are supposed to feel when we are in mourning. What is that message, and are we allowed to mourn differently? Should we all mourn in the same ways? What happens when traditional mourning practices and our own desires conflict? Can we, and should we, individualize the mourning process? Listen in as Rabbi Ilan shares some traditional sources and his own views about how to make the most of the tensions inherent in the mourning process.

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