About Us
Mission
Shiva Circle fosters a community of support to enable mourners to sit shiva.
Vision
We envision a world where this ancient Jewish tradition is available, accessible, and a source of comfort to all.
Our Story
The Jewish tradition of sitting shiva—staying home to be supported by friends and loved ones after a death—is incredibly powerful. It creates the space to grieve and a warm circle of care at the most vulnerable time in our lives.
Shiva can be challenging to orchestrate, especially in our modern world:
As Jews and their families have become more diverse, spread out geographically, and formed communities outside formal Jewish institutions, many aren’t as familiar with the rituals of shiva, aren’t sure what to do Jewishly after the death of a loved one, or don’t have a support network to implement shiva for them.
Too often, it falls on mourners to plan shiva for themselves, because many of us have lost our “shiva circle”—the close-knit village of friends, clergy, and acquaintances who, for millennia, would step in and organize any time there was a death in a Jewish family.
This is not what the architects of this ritual had in mind.
In the days after a death, the weight of all the decisions and emotions can be overwhelming. At the height of grief, it's difficult to think about the logistics of meeting your own basic needs—let alone readying your home to receive visitors.
That’s where Shiva Circle comes in.
Shomer Collective launched Shiva Circle to return the practice of shiva to its roots and put the burden of hosting back where it belongs: with a circle of caring friends and family who gather round to support you in this time of need.
We provide:
The resources to understand what shiva is and what it can mean for you;
An easy-to-use digital platform that breaks shiva down into simple steps and makes it easy for friends and family to help; and,
One-on-one assistance from Shiva Guides who can advise the mourners, mobilize more support, and help mourners create a shiva experience that’s right for them.
By removing the burden, Shiva Circle unlocks the power of shiva to help people feel held by Jewish tradition and community.
Shiva Circle is a project of Shomer Collective, which uses Jewish wisdom and practices to transform end-of-life experiences.
