Definitions

Aninut

The period between death and burial. The mourner during this period is called the "onen."  Before commercial burials, the mourner was fulfilling the needs of the deceased in preparation for burial, and therefore was exempt from other religious duties such as morning and evening prayers, and putting on "tefillin."

Avelut
The Hebrew word for mourning, which consists of three periods: shiva, sheloshim, and the year of mourning.

Keriah
A mourner will usually wear a torn black ribbon on their clothing. This ribbon known as a keriah (kriah) ribbon, keriah meaning torn, symbolizes the tear in the mourner’s heart for his or her loss. In traditional communities, a person’s clothing may be torn near their heart.

Kosher
The term kosher means "fit" or "proper." According to Jewish Law, for food to be considered kosher, the ingredients must conform to specific dietary restrictions. If the food is meat, poultry or fish, it must conform to requirements set forth in the bible and must be slaughtered in a prescribed manner.  

To learn more please visit: Koshercertification.org

Kosher Certification
Agencies supervising the food making process ensure the food is kosher. Each certification agency labels packaging to advise the consumer the food being purchased has been certified to their standards.

To learn more please visit: Oukosher.org

Kosher Style
Follows basic kosher guidelines without necessarily being certified as kosher.

Minyan

A minyan, or prayer service, is held for the mourners every day during shiva. Traditional Jews may hold a morning and afternoon/evening service and require a quorum of ten men. Mourners are comforted by family and friends who participate in this prayer service. The Kaddish prayer is recited at the conclusion of the service in memory of the deceased.

Mitzvah
There are two meanings for the Hebrew word "Mitzvah."  According to the Jewish tradition and law, a mitzvah is primarily known as a commandment given by God. It is secondarily known as a good deed.

Shabbat
The Jewish day of rest, commencing one hour before nightfall on Friday evening and ending at nightfall on Saturday night.

During this time mourners do not to sit shiva and reconvene on Sunday. 

Sheloshim

The 30-day mourning period after the burial and including the first seven days of shiva.  It is observed by the immediate family and is designed to allow the mourner to get over the shock of the death.  The mourners return to work after the first seven days but other restrictions remain such as refraining from attending weddings, dances, parties etc.

Shiva

The traditional seven day period of mourning, following the burial, where mourners stay at home and receive guests to offer them comfort and participate in daily religious services.