Non-Jewish Relatives

As a board-certified psychiatrist who has dealt with mourning and loss, Dr. Jorge Casariego has come to appreciate the crucial role that structure plays in creating a sense of normalcy for mourners. Non-Jewish relatives who wish to honor the memory of a Jewish relative should respect the Jewish traditions of grieving and the structure and comfort these traditions provide. Dr. Casariego expands, “If the person who passed is Jewish. non-Jewish relatives should honor the Jewish tradition and accommodate the Jewish customs. Non-Jewish relatives should participate in shiva to the extent that they feel comfortable and to the extent the family of the deceased feels comfortable.”