Yahrzeit
In Jewish tradition, when the year of mourning is over, mourners are expected to return to a fully normal life. There are several occasions each year when our loved ones who have passed on are memorialized. The most significant of these is yahrzeit, the anniversary of the death, which is observed according to the Hebrew calendar. As is the case in all Jewish holy days, yahrzeit observance begins at night. A 24-hour candle is lit, and it is traditional to avoid attending any celebrations or parties on the day of yahrzeit, and some people fast on that day.
It is customary to recite the Kaddish (memorial prayer) on a loved one's yahrzeit and Temple Emanu-El provides you the opportunity to do so. Shabbat morning services are at 9:30 am on Saturdays throughout the year. In addition, there are services on many Friday evenings during the fall, winter, and spring; the schedule is available on our Shabbat page and in the monthly Temple bulletin. If you wish to recite Kaddish on a Monday or Thursday morning at 7:30 am, the Temple office will try to gather members of our community to help make a minyan. Please call the Temple office a week prior to the morning on which you would like to have a minyan. Remember that the memorial candle should still be lit on the actual date of yahrzeit even if you attend a service to say Kaddish on another date.
In addition, your loved one's name will be read at the Friday evening service on or following the yahrzeit and at the Shabbat morning service on Saturday. If there is no evening service that Friday, the name will be read only on Saturday. It is hoped that you can attend these services and thereby pay tribute to the memory of your loved one .
It is customary to recite the Kaddish (memorial prayer) on a loved one's yahrzeit and Temple Emanu-El provides you the opportunity to do so. Shabbat morning services are at 9:30 am on Saturdays throughout the year. In addition, there are services on many Friday evenings during the fall, winter, and spring; the schedule is available on our Shabbat page and in the monthly Temple bulletin. If you wish to recite Kaddish on a Monday or Thursday morning at 7:30 am, the Temple office will try to gather members of our community to help make a minyan. Please call the Temple office a week prior to the morning on which you would like to have a minyan. Remember that the memorial candle should still be lit on the actual date of yahrzeit even if you attend a service to say Kaddish on another date.
In addition, your loved one's name will be read at the Friday evening service on or following the yahrzeit and at the Shabbat morning service on Saturday. If there is no evening service that Friday, the name will be read only on Saturday. It is hoped that you can attend these services and thereby pay tribute to the memory of your loved one .