Editing Shiva (Judaism) (section)

===Washing hands===
After being near or around the deceased, it is ancient custom to wash oneself, or at minimum wash one’s hands, as a means of purification. After a funeral, or visitation to a cemetery, individuals are required to wash hands as a mark of spiritual transition through water.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shiva |url=https://www.ohebshalom.org/_media/spiritual-life/documents/shiva.pdf |website=Oheb Shalom |access-date=November 30, 2019 |archive-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406230743/https://www.ohebshalom.org/_media/spiritual-life/documents/shiva.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> During shiva, it is especially mandatory to do so before entering the home. There are many different origins of this tradition, though the act is typically associated with symbolic cleansing, the idea being that death is impure in a spiritual sense. Within Judaism, the living is thought to emphasize value of life rather than focus on death. When washing hands after visiting the deceased, it is custom to not pass the cup of water used from person to person. The reason behind this stems from the beliefs and hopes of stopping the tragedy it began, rather than allowing it to continue from person to person as symbolized by the passing of the cup.<ref name="Lamm" />