Question
In my community the custom is for the mourners to walk around the block after completing the Shiva mourning period. Is it merely a custom or is it mandated somewhere? Any idea what, if anything, it is to represent aside from returning to the community at large?
Answer
It appears to be a very common custom to walk around or around the block etc. at the conclusion of Shiva I do not know the source for such a custom. Rabbi Goldberg in his book Mourning in Halacha writes that he does not know the source of this custom and that it may have Kabbalistic roots.
Be Well,
RYB