The Yahrzeit Candle / Yizkor Service

There are 4 times a year when Jews light a special candle, called a Yahrzeit Candle, in memory of loved ones who have died.yahrzeit

Yizkor is a memorial service which is recited on Yom Kippur as well as the last days of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Yizkor, which is the Hebrew word for “remember”, asks G-d to remember those we mourn and to grant them proper rest.

A Yahrzeit Candle is lit at sundown on…

  1. The first night of Yom Kippur
  2. The night of Shemini Atzeret (the 8th night of Sukkot)
  3. The second night of Shavuot
  4. The last night of Passover

The Yizkor service takes place the following day.