The Shivah

You play Rabbi Russell Stone, a devout but increasingly cynical man trying to keep his struggling New York synagogue open. When a former congregant dies and leaves him a substantial sum, Stone questions whether he can accept it and sets out to uncover the circumstances behind the bequest.

Explore locations around Manhattan, talk with characters, investigate clues, and search a computer for information that can reveal new leads and places to visit. Conversations use a rabbinical approach in which Stone can answer questions with questions, alongside other dialogue choices.

The investigation combines point-and-click exploration with clue-checking, occasional item combinations, and a distinctive confrontation system. Decisions shape how the case concludes, with three different endings.

Players who enjoy The Shivah often praise its unusual rabbi detective, Jewish cultural and moral themes, and the atmosphere created by its Manhattan setting and music. Some also like the dialogue choices and alternate endings. Others find the story brief or underdeveloped, the puzzles sparse, and progression unclear; reactions to its portrayal of religion and Jewish characters are notably divided.