Learning Beyond the Class

Having an Intercultural Communication course this semester has made me more aware of the cultures that surround me. By being more aware of the different cultures around me I am learning new things. For example I recently learned about one aspect of another culture from another instructor at school. My Instructor's mother recently passed away. She informed us that she would be taking a leave of absence to honor her mother's death by "Sitting Shiva." This is a Jewish custom which allows for the honoring of the deceased as well as a time for loved ones to mourn their loss (http://www.judaica-guide.com/sitting_shivah/).

Sitting Shiva takes place for seven days after the funeral of the loved one. During these seven days the mourners are not allowed to do the following:
-They mustn't do any form of work, apart from cooking and cleaning the house. -They mustn't wear leather shoes. -They mustn't have intercourse during the Shivah. -They are not allowed to learn Torah, apart from learning mourning rules, reciting psalms or reading the books of Job and Lamentations. -They mustn't greet anyone "hello" or "goodbye", but after the first three days they may answer if someone else has asked them for their well being. -They may not wash their clothes, iron them, or wear clean clothes. -They may only sit on cushions and mattresses, or on stools that are less than 30 cm high. -They mustn't leave the house, apart from going to the synagogue on Sabbath and going to their homes late at night (if they have trouble sleeping where the Shivah is held). -They aren't allowed to shave, have their hair cut, or cut their nails for 30 days (including the 7 days of the Shivah). -They are not allowed to attend joyful events for 30 days, and if they are mourning one of their parents, they are not allowed to do so for 12 months. However, they are allowed to attend a wedding or a Brit Milah of their own child even during the Shivah itself.
(List is from http://www.judaica-guide.com/sitting_shivah/).

It was interesting to learn about my one aspect of my instructor's religious identity. In her culture, Sitting Shiva is an important way to honor a loved one. Many daily activities are sacrificed during this period of time to focus on the deceased, and to deal with the loss. This custom is very different than what I know for honoring a deceased family member. I appreciate the time her culture spends honoring their loved one, and coping with the loss. My instructor taught me about her culture, and I appreciate it. She taught me something beyond the Lifespan Development course I signed up for this semester.