Yizkor

What Is Yizkor?

Yizkor means “May God remember.” It is a Jewish memorial prayer and service offered on four holidays each year. Through prayer, remembrance, and tzedakah—charitable giving—we honor loved ones who have died and the values they shared with us.

This guide describes common practices, not a single rule for every family. Your rabbi or synagogue can help you follow your congregation’s traditions.

When Is Yizkor Recited?

In congregations outside Israel that observe two festival days, Yizkor is generally included in daytime synagogue services on:

• Yom Kippur: 10 Tishrei.
• Shemini Atzeret: 22 Tishrei, immediately following Sukkot.
• The eighth day of Passover (Pesach): 22 Nisan.
• The second day of Shavuot: 7 Sivan.

In Israel, Yizkor is observed on the seventh day of Passover (21 Nisan) and the single day of Shavuot (6 Sivan). Congregations outside Israel that observe one festival day may also use a different schedule. Always confirm the date and service time with your synagogue.

Hebrew-calendar dates fall on different civil-calendar dates each year. Jewish holidays begin the evening before the listed daytime date; Yizkor itself is normally recited during the day. Consult the Jewish holiday calendar and your congregation’s schedule when planning to attend.

Who Is Remembered?

Yizkor is commonly recited for parents, spouses, children, and siblings. Other relatives, friends, and people who have no one to remember them may also be included. Services often include remembrance of Holocaust victims and others who died as part of the Jewish community’s shared history.

During the First Year After a Death

Customs differ. Some communities begin Yizkor at the first holiday following the death; others wait until the first year of mourning has passed. Ask your rabbi which practice to follow rather than assuming there is one requirement for everyone.

If Your Parents Are Living

In some congregations, people whose parents are living leave the sanctuary during Yizkor. In others, they remain to remember another loved one or to support the community. Follow your congregation’s guidance, especially if you are remembering a spouse, child, sibling, or friend.

What Happens During the Service?

The service usually includes personal memorial prayers and communal readings. It may include El Malei Rachamim, a prayer asking for peace for the departed, and the Mourner’s Kaddish. The order and wording vary by congregation.

• Contact the synagogue beforehand for the approximate Yizkor time, seating or registration requirements, and accessibility arrangements.
• Bring the names of those you wish to remember. Hebrew names are often used; if you do not know them, ask the rabbi for help. Naming conventions vary by prayer book and community.
• Use the synagogue’s prayer book or a translation you understand. You do not need to be fluent in Hebrew to participate meaningfully.
• Allow yourself time afterward. It is natural for familiar prayers and holidays to bring renewed feelings of grief.

The Yizkor Prayers

The personal prayer asks God to remember the departed and connects remembrance with charitable giving. Use the version appropriate to your relationship and your congregation’s custom.

• Yizkor prayer text in Hebrew, transliteration, and English — Chabad.org
• An English Yizkor prayer and explanation — Exploring Judaism

If you cannot attend synagogue, the personal Yizkor prayers may be recited at home. They do not require a minyan. This differs from the Mourner’s Kaddish, which traditionally requires a prayer quorum. Ask your rabbi which parts of a communal service to use when praying alone.

Lighting a Memorial Candle

Many families light a memorial candle to burn during the day of Yizkor. There is no special blessing for lighting a memorial candle. Its light provides a quiet focus for remembering the person who died.

Plan the lighting time in advance. Before Yom Kippur or Shabbat, light before their beginning. When Yizkor falls on a later festival day, rules about transferring an existing flame and when to light require care; ask your rabbi for instructions for that holiday. Do not assume a new flame may be lit on the holiday.

Place candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface, away from anything flammable and out of reach of children and pets. If a flame cannot be used safely, ask about an electric memorial light. Candle lighting is not a prerequisite for reciting Yizkor.

Giving in Their Memory

Tzedakah is an important part of Yizkor. A gift to a cause your loved one cared about can carry their values forward. Where the prayer includes a pledge, choose a commitment you can fulfill and arrange the donation before or after the holiday in keeping with your practice. Acts of kindness, study, and sharing memories can also honor their life.

Yizkor, Yahrzeit, and Kaddish: What Is the Difference?

• Yizkor is the memorial prayer and service on four holidays each year, regardless of a loved one’s date of death.
• Yahrzeit is the annual anniversary of a death according to the Hebrew calendar. Use our Yahrzeit Calendars for a loved one’s individual dates.
• Kaddish is a prayer of praise to God recited by mourners in community during mourning and on a Yahrzeit. See our Kaddish guide for the words and guidance.

If Yizkor Feels Difficult

Whether the loss is recent or happened many years ago, you may feel sadness, comfort, or both. Consider attending with someone you trust, speaking with your rabbi beforehand, or planning quiet time after the service. Our Support & Outreach resources are also available as you navigate grief.

Sources and Further Guidance

This overview draws on Exploring Judaism’s explanation of Yizkor and Chabad.org’s guidance on Yizkor at home. For personal religious questions, holiday candle-lighting instructions, and your local service schedule, consult your rabbi or synagogue.