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What do I say when going to a shivah-house to console a mourner?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

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When consoling a mourner, we say:

"HaMakom yenachem etchem b'toch sha'ar availay Tzion VeYerushalayim"

[The Omnipresent One should comfort you amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem].

See also "Why do we mention the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem when offering condolences to an indiviudal mourning a personal loss?"


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Shiva

Posted by: B. Bosinoff on Feb 14, 2006

RE: This dialogue:

What do I say when going to a shiva-house to console a mourner?

When consoling a mourner, we say:

"Hamakom yenachem eschem b'soch sha'ar availay Tzion Veerushalayim (The Omniscient One should comfort you amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem). "

1) Didn't answer the question. HaMakom is said when you leave. The question is what do you say when there. Answer ... very little .. no jokes ... don't speak until spoken to ... etc.

2) The transliteration of Ve'yerushalayim" is missing at least the "y"

3) The translation of HaMakom ... well, it does refer to space, but who in the world would ever translate it as the "Omnipresent One" ... maybe, just "Omnipresent" (no "one" -- doesn't say "echud") but "G-d" or "L-ord" would be better.

Editor's Comment

1) You are correct. 2) Phonetically, this is the correct transliteration. The "yud" of "Yerushalayim" is not enunciated. 3) This the common, and correct, translation for "Hamakom".
Jerusalem
Established by King David to be the eternal capital of Israel. Both Temples were built there, and the third Temple will be situated there when the Messiah comes.