Mirrors

By Susanna Calimani*

One of the things I like the most among all Jewish laws and rules, are those about shivà, the seven days of mourning prescribed to the close relatives of someone who passes away and leaves us here, still.

The wake and the funeral are just the beginning, and then you rip your shirt, you cannot cook, wash, wear clean clothes, you cannot see yourself in the mirror, or sit on a comfortable chair. You are not allowed to rejoice at anything. You are supposed to be taken care of and let yourself into the deepest misery, deeper than the one you already had. You are not allowed any relief because you have to feel all your sorrow; you cannot listen to music since the only thing you should listen to is your mourning. 

After seven days of lamentation you are allowed to go back to your almost normal life, that anyway will never be the same.
So please, spare the useless comparisons and easy populism, spare the loud words and the noisy opinions.
And cover your mirrors for Nice.

*Susanna Calimani is a wandering economist, currently based in Frankfurt.