The Yahrzeit Candle / Yizkor Service
There are 4 times a year when Jews light a special candle, called aYahrzeit Candle, in memory of loved ones who have died.
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…
- The first night of Yom Kippur
- The night of Shemini Atzeret (the 8th night of Sukkot)
- The second night of Shavuot
- The last night of Passover
The Yizkor service takes place the following day.
