We never forget our departed loved ones. Moreover, Jewish tradition teaches that we can posthumously bring great honor to their souls. YIZKOR MEMORIAL PRAYER is recited four times throughout the year (on Yom Kippur, on the eighth day of Sukkot, the final day of Passover, and on the 2nd day of Shavuot). Yizkor, in Hebrew, means "Remember". When we recite Yizkor, we renew and strengthen the connection between us and our loved ones, bringing merit to the departed souls, elevating them in their celestial homes. MEMORIAL PLAQUE: For many years, Jewish communities have established Yahrtzeit Boards to memorialize loved ones and indicate the specific days of their passing. This permanent remembrance is a most fitting, traditional and dignified way to honor the memory of a loved one. On the person’s yartzeit, and on each of the holidays, the bulb near that respective plaque is illuminated. YIZKOR BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE: At Chabad, we produce a Book of Remembrance to be used at Yizkor Memorial Services on each of the 4 holidays. The book lists the names of those you wish to memorialize. KADDISH: This prayer has been recited by Jewish mourners for nearly 2,000 years, to honor and commemorate parents and loved ones who have passed away. This prayer – recited for eleven months following one’s passing – and each year on the yahrtzeit (anniversary) of the passing, brings added comfort and ‘nachas’ to the departed soul. Not everyone has the opportunity to say kaddish every day for eleven months, or even on the annual day of the Yahrtzeit. It is thus traditional to arrange for another Jew to recite the kaddish as a proxy.
If you’d like to commission someone in Israel to serve this role, please click let us know.
