Why Do Orthodox Jews Cover Mirrors When Mourning?

Why Do Orthodox Jews Cover Mirrors When Mourning?

When you walk into a Jewish home during the shiva period — the seven days of mourning after a loved one's burial — one of the first things you'll notice is that every mirror in the house is covered. Draped with cloth, turned to the wall, or taped over with paper.

The direct answer: covering mirrors during shiva removes the focus on physical appearance during a time when mourners should be concentrating entirely on their loss, their memories, and their spiritual processing of grief. It's about turning inward rather than looking outward.

The Reasons Behind It

Several explanations have been offered over the centuries, and they complement rather than contradict each other:

Removing Vanity

The most straightforward reason. During shiva, mourners don't shower for pleasure, don't wear leather shoes, don't apply cosmetics, and sit on low chairs. Covering mirrors is consistent with this theme — everything about personal appearance takes a back seat to the experience of grief.

Looking in a mirror is, by definition, an act of self-focus. During mourning, the focus should be on the person who passed and on comforting the bereaved, not on how anyone looks.

Prayer Considerations

During shiva, prayer services are held in the mourner's home. Jewish law prohibits praying in front of a mirror because seeing your own reflection during prayer can interfere with concentration — you might start focusing on yourself rather than on your conversation with G-d.

Since the home temporarily becomes a house of prayer during shiva, covering the mirrors serves this practical halachic purpose as well.

The Image of G-d

A deeper mystical explanation: humans are created b'tzelem Elokim — in the image of G-d. When a person dies, one reflection of that divine image has been diminished in the world. Covering mirrors symbolically acknowledges this loss — we cover the reflective surfaces as if to say that something essential about how G-d's image is reflected in our world has been dimmed.

Practical Kindness

There's also a compassionate, practical angle. Mourners during shiva often look disheveled — they haven't showered, they may have torn their garments (a practice called kriah), they've been crying. Covering mirrors spares them from confronting their own grief-stricken appearance when they're already in pain.

How Long Do the Mirrors Stay Covered?

Mirrors remain covered for the full seven-day shiva period. When shiva ends — typically after the morning service on the seventh day — the coverings come down, and this small act becomes part of the mourner's gradual return to normal life.

If shiva is cut short by a Jewish holiday (which happens according to specific halachic rules), the mirrors are uncovered when the holiday begins.

Is This Required by Jewish Law?

Interestingly, covering mirrors isn't explicitly mentioned in the Talmud as a binding law. It's a widely accepted custom (minhag) that has become virtually universal in Jewish mourning practice. Even families that are otherwise less observant almost always cover their mirrors during shiva — it's one of those traditions that transcends denominational lines.

What Else Changes During Shiva?

Covered mirrors are just one element of a comprehensive mourning framework:

• Sitting low: Mourners sit on low chairs or cushions on the floor, symbolizing being brought low by grief.
• No leather shoes: Mourners wear non-leather footwear, removing a symbol of comfort and luxury.
• Torn garments: Close relatives tear their clothing (kriah) as an expression of grief.
• Community visits: Friends and community members visit the mourners, bringing food and comfort. The visitors follow the mourner's lead — you don't initiate conversation but wait for the mourner to speak first.
• Candle burning: A memorial candle burns for the full seven days.

A Personal Reflection

When my grandfather passed away, I remember walking into my parents' home and seeing the mirrors draped with white sheets. It transformed the house. The space felt different — heavier, more inward, more focused. Without mirrors, you stop thinking about how you look and start thinking about how you feel.

That's the genius of Jewish mourning practices. Every physical change to the environment supports an emotional and spiritual shift. Covered mirrors tell you: this isn't a time for the surface. Go deeper.

The seven days of shiva, with all their restrictions and rituals, create a container for grief that modern psychology increasingly recognizes as healthy. There's no rushing back to normal. There's no pressure to look okay. The mirrors are covered, and you're allowed to simply be broken for a while.

Want to learn more? Read our full guide to Jewish funerals and mourning or explore Orthodox Judaism.