What is Yizkor?
Meaning, Memory, and Community
In the Yizkor service, we come together as a community to remember those we have loved and who have shaped us into who we are today. The word Yizkor comes from the Hebrew root zachor, “to remember.” In these prayers, we ask God to remember our loved ones who are no longer with us and to “bind them in the bonds of life.”
Yizkor is unique among Jewish mourning rituals because it is recited publicly at synagogue. Most moments of Jewish mourning are deeply private, taking place at the funeral chapel, at the graveside, or in our homes. Yizkor, by contrast, takes place in the synagogue, surrounded by others who have also experienced loss. It is a private moment held within a very public setting.
There is something powerful in this duality. Each of us mourns different people, and each of us carries a loss that is uniquely our own. Yet by standing together during Yizkor, we are reminded that we are not alone. Others, too, know the pain of loss. Others, too, experience the emptiness that grief can bring. In our most personal moments of mourning, we are gently reminded of the shared human roots of these emotions. Loss is an experience that binds us together.
Historically, Yizkor was recited only on Yom Kippur and was closely connected to the practice of giving tzedakah in memory of the deceased. The traditional understanding was that performing a mitzvah in honour of someone who has died could help elevate their soul in Olam HaBa, the World to Come.
A more contemporary understanding focuses on legacy. By performing mitzvot in memory of those we have lost, we affirm that their lives continue to matter. Even though their physical presence is no longer with us, they still influence the world through our actions. Our deeds become their deeds. Our choices carry their values forward.
In this way, even years or decades after someone has died, they can continue to shape the world for the better through us.
As you recite the Yizkor prayers, try to remember the person you are honouring not only in the past tense. Let their memory influence who you are and how you live. When we allow memory to shape action, we ensure that those we remember continue to live on in our world each and every day.
In the Yizkor service, we come together as a community to remember those we have loved and who have shaped us into who we are today. The word Yizkor comes from the Hebrew root zachor, “to remember.” In these prayers, we ask God to remember our loved ones who are no longer with us and to “bind them in the bonds of life.”
Yizkor is unique among Jewish mourning rituals because it is recited publicly at synagogue. Most moments of Jewish mourning are deeply private, taking place at the funeral chapel, at the graveside, or in our homes. Yizkor, by contrast, takes place in the synagogue, surrounded by others who have also experienced loss. It is a private moment held within a very public setting.
There is something powerful in this duality. Each of us mourns different people, and each of us carries a loss that is uniquely our own. Yet by standing together during Yizkor, we are reminded that we are not alone. Others, too, know the pain of loss. Others, too, experience the emptiness that grief can bring. In our most personal moments of mourning, we are gently reminded of the shared human roots of these emotions. Loss is an experience that binds us together.
Historically, Yizkor was recited only on Yom Kippur and was closely connected to the practice of giving tzedakah in memory of the deceased. The traditional understanding was that performing a mitzvah in honour of someone who has died could help elevate their soul in Olam HaBa, the World to Come.
A more contemporary understanding focuses on legacy. By performing mitzvot in memory of those we have lost, we affirm that their lives continue to matter. Even though their physical presence is no longer with us, they still influence the world through our actions. Our deeds become their deeds. Our choices carry their values forward.
In this way, even years or decades after someone has died, they can continue to shape the world for the better through us.
As you recite the Yizkor prayers, try to remember the person you are honouring not only in the past tense. Let their memory influence who you are and how you live. When we allow memory to shape action, we ensure that those we remember continue to live on in our world each and every day.
When Is Yizkor Recited?
Yizkor is recited four times a year during the major holidays.*
In the Hebrew year 5786, or 2025–2026 in the secular calendar, the dates of Yizkor are:
*These dates are for the Diaspora (outside of Israel). In Israel, the Yizkor services for Passover and Shavuot fall one day earlier (because an additional day is added to those festivals outside of Israel.)
In the Hebrew year 5786, or 2025–2026 in the secular calendar, the dates of Yizkor are:
- Yom Kippur - October 2, 2025
- Shemini Atzeret - October 14, 2025
- Passover - April 9, 2026
- Shavuot - May 23, 2026
- Yom Kippur - September 21, 2026
- Shemini Atzeret - October 3, 2026
- Passover - April 29, 2027
- Shavuot - June 12, 2027
- Yom Kippur - October 11, 2027
- Shemini Atzeret - October 23, 2027
- Passover - April 18, 2028
- Shavuot - June 1, 2028
*These dates are for the Diaspora (outside of Israel). In Israel, the Yizkor services for Passover and Shavuot fall one day earlier (because an additional day is added to those festivals outside of Israel.)
What Prayers Do we say?
Different communities have different customs of what to include in the Yizkor service. Various psalms, readings, or songs are used to set the mood. The main section is the actual prayer of remembrance shown in the next section. Often El Malei, the memorial prayer recited at a funeral is included. Some communities add addition memorial prayers for those who were murdered in the Shoah, victims of terrorism, or for members of the synagogue. Lastly, many communities will also recite the mourners kaddish as part of the Yizkor service.
When do I light the candle?
Traditionally one lights a memorial candle in honor of their loved one. One can find in a Judaica shop, synagogue, or online special candles that will burn for the whole day.
The candle is lit the night before because that is when the holiday begins in the Jewish calendar.
Traditionally the memorial candle should be allowed to burn for the entire holiday. However it is important that the candle be place somewhere safe, and not be left unattended. One should always err on the side of caution and blow out the candle if you are worried about potential danger. (There are also electric candles one can purchase and use instead, if they are unable to light a traditional candle safely.)
The candle is lit the night before because that is when the holiday begins in the Jewish calendar.
Traditionally the memorial candle should be allowed to burn for the entire holiday. However it is important that the candle be place somewhere safe, and not be left unattended. One should always err on the side of caution and blow out the candle if you are worried about potential danger. (There are also electric candles one can purchase and use instead, if they are unable to light a traditional candle safely.)
Can I recite yizkor at home?
While there is something special about being together as a community and recognizing that loss is a universal experience, one can recite the prayers of yizkor at home. The mourners kaddish is the only prayer that requires one to be with ten Jewish adults, and traditionally it was not recited as part of the yizkor service.
Why do we give tzedakah?
As part of the text of Yizkor we pledge to donate tzedakah in memory of someone to fulfill a mitzvah in their honor. One can also take on other mitzvot, or commandments, to honor their loved one's memory.
Some potential mitzvot are:
Some potential mitzvot are:
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen
- Collect supplies for the those in need
- Visit people in the hospital or nursing home
- Study a Jewish text, or join a class at a synagogue