This page is still under construction.

Why does Shiva work as well as it does?

There are several reasons.

There are all of the traditional reasons and they are certainly correct and we are giving the Jewish religion the opportunity to work at its finest.

In addition, there is the fact that the person sitting Shiva knows that it is supposed to work. They know that they are part of a process and that everybody who is coming is also part of that same process. They know that they are doing something, they feel that they are doing something that is very different from the ordinary. Their entire lives are turned topsy turvy, upside down. Everything is being done in a way that is different. It is clear that some sort of a process is going on and to some people who have not studied the laws and traditions of mourning well enough, this is something which is exciting and certainly different from the way they usually carry about their lives.

The fact that they are part of this process itself helps the recovery process at work. It helps the person be consoled.

The fact that so many people are coming over also is consoling. They may not know the right things to say, but that's not important. They are showing their concern and the person feels that a lot of people many of whom he cares for are coming to try to help with this process.

Under these circumstances, of course the process works. Everybody pushing in one direction to try to console somebody, whether they understand what they are doing, whether they realize what they're doing, whether they can explain it - when everybody is unified and going in the same direction then there is a strong pull in that direction. It helps it work.