Covering Mirrors During Shiva

Why Mirrors Are Covered

When a Jewish family sits shiva — the initial mourning period after burial — mirrors throughout the home are draped with cloth. The practice appears across all denominations, from Orthodox to Reform, though the reasoning behind it varies depending on who you ask.

The most widely cited explanation is psychological: covering mirrors discourages vanity and self-focus during a period meant for grief and memory. Mourners should not be thinking about their appearance. The focus belongs entirely on the deceased and on processing loss.

A second explanation is theological. Some traditions hold that the soul of the deceased lingers near the home during shiva. Mirrors, which create images and reflections, could confuse or trap the soul. Covering them removes that concern.

A third explanation is liturgical: some families connect covering mirrors with the concern about praying in front of one's reflection. In Reform practice, however, mirror-covering is a custom rather than a requirement.

How to Cover Them

Use any opaque cloth — bedsheets, tablecloths, fabric remnants, or even large pieces of construction paper or cardboard. Tape or drape them over every reflective surface in the common areas of the home: bathroom mirrors, hallway mirrors, decorative mirrors, and any glass surfaces that produce a clear reflection.

Most families cover mirrors in the main living spaces, bathrooms, and hallways. Bedrooms and private spaces are sometimes left uncovered for practical reasons, though more observant families cover every mirror in the house.

The mirrors stay covered for the duration of shiva. In traditional practice, that is seven days. Reform families who observe a shortened shiva — three days or even a single evening — remove the coverings when shiva ends.

When to Cover and When to Uncover

Timing matters. Cover the mirrors before the family returns from the cemetery — ideally, a friend or neighbor handles this while the funeral is taking place, along with setting up the memorial candle and preparing the seudat havraah (meal of consolation). Walking into a home where the mirrors are already covered sends an immediate signal: this space has been prepared for mourning.

If shiva is suspended for Shabbat (from Friday afternoon before sundown through Saturday evening), the mirrors typically stay covered — most families do not uncover and re-cover for a single day. When shiva ends, remove the coverings as part of the transition back to ordinary life. Many families pair uncovering the mirrors with the ritual walk around the block that traditionally marks the end of shiva.

Other Reflective Surfaces

The custom extends beyond bathroom and hallway mirrors. Consider covering or turning away any large reflective surface in the common areas: glass-fronted picture frames, decorative glass cabinet doors, and large TV screens. You do not need to cover every piece of glass in the house — small surfaces, windows, and objects in private rooms are generally left alone. The intent is to eliminate the casual encounter with your own reflection during communal mourning, not to create an elaborate installation.

Do Reform Families Still Do This?

Many do. Mirror-covering is one of the shiva customs that has survived across denominations because it carries intuitive emotional logic. Even families who are not particularly observant often cover mirrors as a visible signal that the household has shifted into mourning — a physical marker that ordinary life has paused.

Reform Judaism treats mirror-covering as optional, not obligatory. No rabbi will insist on it, and no one will judge a family that skips it. Families may still choose the practice as a meaningful, low-effort way to create a contemplative atmosphere in the home.

The custom also gives non-Jewish friends and family members a concrete way to help. If you are supporting a Jewish friend through a loss and want to do something practical, offering to cover mirrors before the family arrives home from the cemetery is a gesture that takes fifteen minutes and communicates genuine care.

Setting Up the Shiva Home

Mirror-covering is one part of a broader set of shiva preparations. If you are setting up a shiva home — whether as the mourner or as a friend helping the family — our Jewish Reform Funeral & Mourning Guide includes a complete shiva host coordinator template covering mirror-covering, the memorial candle, hand-washing station setup, food coordination, and visitor flow.