Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

Did you know that the recitation of Yizkor is a custom, not a law? While a law can be traced to a source in sacred literature, a custom generally develops as a will of the people. The recitation of Yizkor is primarily an Ashkenazic custom.

Yizkor was unknown in the Bible and the Talmud. It originated in the twelfth century as a response to the Crusades, to remember so many who died as martyrs.

The practice of saying Yizkor for family members developed much later, as did saying it on Pesach, Shavuot, and Shemini Atzeret.

An essential component of Yizkor is pledging Tzedakah. We ask God to remember our loved ones in part by giving Tzedakah in their memories.

Some people refrain from reciting Yizkor during the first year of losing a loved one. Others begin to recite Yizkor right away. Both are customs. In his well known book, The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning, Rabbi Maurice Lamm favors reciting Yizkor right away.

Some children, out of respect for living parents, leave the sanctuary during Yizkor. In the natural order of things, parents should be the first ones we remember. Others, whose parents are alive, choose with or without parental consent to remain in the sanctuary to recite Yizkor for the millions of martyrs in Jewish history.

I remember asking my parents' permission to lead Yizkor the first time I ever officiated at High Holy Day services so that I could help a small community remember its loved ones. My parents gave me their blessing.

As mentioned, everything about Yizkor is custom, not law. For some, particular Yizkor practices are stronger than others.

Find your meaningful place with Yizkor. Remember that the Mitzvot and laws of Judaism center around the joy and fulfillment in living a Jewish lifestyle all year long.

Rabbi Howard Morrison