Kriah

Kriah is the practice in traditional Jewish mourning where immediate family members of the deceased tear their clothing. Also known as the "rending of garments", it is a physical and visible demonstration of grief.

Immediately preceding a burial, those practicing kriah have their outer clothing torn—this tearing happens while the mourner is standing, to symbolize their facing grief head-on. The mourner continues wearing the torn clothing for days, weeks, or even a year afterward; among other purposes, this serves as a sign to the mourner's community that a loss is still recent and fresh.

So "torn" is the idea: when tragedy and sadness and grief intersect a life, there is a rip made that cannot be undone or fully mended. At the same time, however, kriah has its limits. Contained to the outer garment only, it signifies that despite pain and torn-ness the inner person, the spirit can still be whole.