What to Expect Attending Your First Shiva

Whether it's a bris, bat mitzvah or a shiva, there's a ceremony for every aspect of Jewish life -- and death. But when it comes time to observe these moments for the first time, the anxiety that sometimes surfaces can be unnerving. Sitting shiva, the traditional week-long mourning period following a funeral, is no different. To help apprehensive first timers, the Forward spoke to expert in the field David Techner about how to navigate a shiva for the first time.