The First Meal
The first meal eaten by the mourning family on their return from the burial is the seudat havara'ah. The seudat havara’ah is considered a private meal to be shared among immediate family members, not a public event where condolences are offered.
The seudat havara’ah is provided by the community and usually consists of food items that are round, such as peeled hard-boiled eggs, bagels and lentils, symbolizing the cycle of life.