by Chana M.
Member since:
June 6, 2008

Shiva (For The Heart?) {written by Chana M. published by Liz B.}

August 18, 2009 12:34 AM EDT (Updated: August 18, 2009 04:07 AM EDT)
views: 247 | comments: 32
Shiva
burial of the dead
curtains drawn
shoes off
keriah rend
mirrors covered
no signs of wealth
the heart is dead
avel weeps
tears of salt
tears of mourning
seven days
only seven days
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

Shivering
curtains up gloom seeps through
shoes off
heart rend
mirrors show signs of pain
wealth has departed
the heart has broken
mourner weeps
tears of salt
tears of pain
seven days
only seven days
is there Shiva for the heart?
Tenachamu Min Hashamayim
© JACM 18 August 2009
 

Chana emailed this to me and asked me to publish it on her Gather account. She gave the translations below. If you have any quetions let me know and I will pass then on. I don't know much about this, I am not Jewish.

In Judaism, shiva (or shiv'ah, Hebrew: שבעה ; "seven") is the week-long period of grief and mourning for the seven first-degree relatives: father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, and spouse. (Grandparents and grandchildren are not included). As most regular activity is interrupted, the process of following the shiva ritual is referred to as "sitting" shiva. Shiva is a part of the customs for bereavement in Judaism.

avel = אבל ; "mourner
keriah = A torn garment must be worn throughout the shiva period (a practice known as "keriah"; alternative spellings "keriyah", "kria").
rend = To tear a garment which is worn throughout shiva.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים = Hamakom y'nachem etkhem b'tokh sha'ar avelei tziyon viyrushalayim or "The Omnipresent will comfort you (pl.) among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem"
Tenachamu Min Hashamayim = May you be comforted by Hashem (G-D)

. 
link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 32

Ruthi C. Aug 18, 2009, 12:55am EDT
The intensity of Chana's pain is heartfelt.
(thank you Liz)
Blessings & a bit o' sunshine to you both!
René Allen Oct 19, 2009, 11:47pm EDT
I so agree with your words Ruthi.

Many THANKS Liz.

WE truly miss Chana's presence.
Linda T. Aug 18, 2009, 1:28am EDT
This poem is so filled with her heartache. A person can not mourn something that is not dead though. Chana's heart may be wounded but there will be healing and loving once again. Mourn the matter that led to the heartbreak.
Liz B. Aug 18, 2009, 1:41am EDT
I edited this to relect what Shiva is. I admit I got the defintion from Wikipedia as I cannot really explain it very well. I think she is comparing death with the death of the heart. I will ask her.
Linda T. Aug 18, 2009, 1:44am EDT
I understand she is comparing death with the death of her heart but my response is that when one is dealing with heart break it may feel like their heart is dead but it isn't. My reply was meant to be encouraging.
Liz B. Aug 18, 2009, 1:51am EDT
Ok, please excuse me. I actually am not on social networking sites so this is all new (and confusing) to me.
Linda T. Aug 18, 2009, 1:56am EDT
no problem I was trying to clear up the confusion. If you have any questions feel free to ask .
.* Sandi * Aug 18, 2009, 1:31am EDT
I agree with Linda
Hugs Chana
Svetlana Goryacheva Aug 18, 2009, 8:27am EDT
Please, send Chanochka my love and prayers... I'm not Jewish as well, but I'm acquainted with the details of this tradition, so every line speaks to be with the intensity I wouldn't even try to describe. May HaShem comfort and console her...

Blessings and best wishes - S.

Vinod Sailes Aug 18, 2009, 9:10am EDT
Liz B and Chana. Beautiful poem touching though the heart but feel uneasy that a person who could mould words into such a beauty-full-of-thoughts is today shrunk in deep distress. Your friends beckon you to take heart and reveal your strong self. Fail the adversaries and come full of cheer and hearty.
Ellie !. Aug 18, 2009, 9:57am EDT
This may be hard to do, but I, too, hope Chana can! We must go through the pain to free ourselves.
deep sorrow~embrace for Chana
Thanks for posting to GutterGirls~
Elizabeth O. Aug 18, 2009, 9:18am EDT
I understand the tradition, I hope its cleansing and healing for Chana.
Kushal Poddar Aug 18, 2009, 9:20am EDT
There is more in this. More in these words. More that we shall never know.

love or hate this life
Melissa Underhill Aug 18, 2009, 9:54am EDT
Thank you for sharing this. I'm so sorry she's going through this pain.
Maurice K. Aug 18, 2009, 11:00am EDT
May Chana find the relief from her pain in this tradition, which I know well from experience.
David P. Aug 18, 2009, 11:53am EDT
Sitting shiva for a parent is a very necessary thing for a son to do. The shiva lasts for a week, but I was taught that the son should also attend services once a week for a full year and say the Kadush during each service. I did this for both of my parents and it meant a lot to me in my healing. I usually only attend High Holy Day Services now (I really should attend more often) because it is a remembrance of loved ones that have passed on. (The above poem by Chana is a heartfelt one.)
Sheri P. Sep 11, 2009, 10:12pm EDT
Until five years ago, i only attended on High Holy Day Services. Now that I have a 13 year old daughter who is very committed to Judaism, we try to go every weekend. She is the one that brought me back to my faith and helped me heal from my past. When my grandfather died, my father sat shiva for his dad, attended service once a week for a year, said the Kaddish and now does this every year on the anniversary of his death.
David P. Sep 15, 2009, 9:56am EDT
That's excellent, Sheri. I also have a memorial light (electric) for 24 hours a day lit in remembrance of my parents. It is in the condo where I live.
Tracey Lapham Aug 18, 2009, 3:53pm EDT
<3
God bless, Chana
Georgiana S. Aug 18, 2009, 6:33pm EDT
Has there been a physical death to mourn? I had one of those last month too, but not being Jewish, we had a wake.
Adrian Eve Revenaugh Aug 18, 2009, 6:43pm EDT
To you and yours Chana

The Surreal Circus
Shelbia C. Aug 18, 2009, 7:38pm EDT
Thanks for posting to Writing Reservoir. Your poem is now featured
Shelbia C. Aug 18, 2009, 7:39pm EDT
I agree with Linda as well. I also hope the writing helps
Lewis (taking over Gather) K. Aug 19, 2009, 9:00pm EDT
Just remember it is a period of mourning. Though heartbroken, one cannot mourn forever. They must choose to keep living...
Cynthia Isis A. Aug 20, 2009, 6:36am EDT
Beautiful poem full of deep and broad meaning. I understand what you are saying Chana.

Blessings and peaceful healing to you.
Kathryn E. Sep 13, 2009, 8:58pm EDT
Very tragic....
Korak 257 Sep 13, 2009, 9:36pm EDT
Oh my GOD ,
She knew the time was near...I can only wonder what she felt in her last week.She was not alone for look at all the love here at GATHER and her husband....I will miss her.
Sheila Deeth Sep 16, 2009, 7:06pm EDT
I scarcely knew her. But I'm glad I came to read this.
René Allen Sep 25, 2009, 12:21am EDT
Liz ~ This is really POWERFUL. This is NOW FEATURED in Artistic Therapy.

oh chana . . .
DIANE D. Oct 17, 2009, 5:17pm EDT
Thank-you, Liz~

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16961, "Pacino"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.