Yahrzeit
Yahrzeit, means "Time of Year" in Yiddish and is the term used to signify the “anniversary” of a loved one’s death. Traditionally, the yahrtzeit is observed on the Hebrew date of the deceased's death. However, many people choose to observe a loved one’syahrtzeit according to the Gregorian calendar.
A yahrtzeit may be observed in the following ways. Most common is the recitation the mourner's version of the Kaddish prayer. This can be accomplished at any one of three prayer services beginning with the evening service of the previous day, or on the day of at either the morning and/or afternoon service. It is also a widely practiced custom for mourners to light a special candle that burns for 24 hours, called a "Yahrtzeit candle." This candle honors the memory and soul of the deceased. This custom comes from the Book of Proverbs (20:27) which states, "The soul of man is a candle of the Lord." Today, some people use an electric yahrtzeit candle instead of an actual candle for safety reasons.
These two traditions are also observed on the holiday of Yom Kippur and on the last day of Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot. The mourner’s version of the Kaddish is said at the Yizkor (Remembrance) service associated with each holiday. The yahrtzeit candle is lit the evening prior, at sundown, to each holiday.
About Yizkor
The Yizkor Service, is a memorial service for the dead. Its name is derived from the beginning line of the Yizkor prayer, “Yizkor Elohim…. – May God remember….” This prayer is recited by those who have lost either one or both of their parents; some participate in the Yizkor Service for any relative or close friend whose death they mourn. However, there is also the custom that those who have not lost a parent leave the service area until the completion of the Yizkor Service, as a sign of respect to the life of one's living parents. One typically does not attend the Yizkor Service during the first year of mourning.
Yizkor Services 8:00 AM on each
of the day's listed except for
Yom Kippur and Shabbat.
Mourners Kaddish
Transliteration
Yit-gadal v'yit-kadash sh'may raba b'alma dee-v'ra che-ru-tay, ve'yam-lich mal-chutay b'chai-yay-chon uv'yo-may-chon uv-cha-yay d'chol beit Yisrael, ba-agala u'vitze-man ka-riv, ve'imru amen.
Y'hay sh'may raba me'varach le-alam uleh-almay alma-ya.
Yit-barach v'yish-tabach, v'yit-pa-ar v'yit-romam v'yit-nasay, v'yit-hadar v'yit-aleh v'yit-halal sh'may d'koo-d'shah, b'rich hoo. layla (ool-ayla)* meen kol beer-chata v'she-rata, toosh-b'chata v'nay-ch'mata, da-a meran b'alma, ve'imru amen.
Y'hay sh'lama raba meen sh'maya v'cha-yim aleynu v'al kol Yisrael, ve'imru amen.
O'seh shalom beem-romav, hoo ya'ah-seh shalom aleynu v'al kol Yisrael, ve'imru amen.
Translation
Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which God has created according to God’s will.
May God establish Gods kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.
May God great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be God, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.God who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.