Plural of shiva, a seven-day period of mourning in Jewish tradition where family members gather to pay respects to a deceased person.
From Hebrew 'shiva' meaning seven. The practice dates back to biblical times and remains a central ritual in Jewish culture.
The word 'shiva' is literally just 'seven' in Hebrew—the entire mourning ritual is named for its duration, and the practice is so old it appears in the Book of Genesis!
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