Please see our Mourning Page for general information on Jewish mourning.

What is a Yahrzeit?

A Yahrzeit is a Jewish tradition that commemorates the anniversary of a person’s death. It is observed annually on the Hebrew calendar, typically based on the day of death. Common practices include lighting a memorial candle, reciting the Kaddish prayer, doing tzedakah, sponsoring a community Kiddush meal, visiting the grave, and gathering with family to remember and honour the deceased. The Yahrzeit serves as a time for reflection, remembrance, and paying respects to the departed loved one.

Beth Torah is here to support you and your family on memorializing your loved ones’ yahrziets. We publish the yahrzeits of our membership weekly in our communication channels, and remind family members of upcoming yahrzeits throughout the year.

Please click here to reach out to the office if you have any questions.

When do I light candles?

Candles are lit at sundown on the eve of the anniversary of the person’s death. The candle typically burns for approximately 24 hours, symbolizing the duration of a day. The Yahrzeit date is determined based on the Hebrew calendar, and the candle is lit at the beginning of that day in the evening.

Please reach out to the office if you need a candle for lighting.

Mourner’s Kaddish Prayer

In Aramaic, the Mourner’s Kaddish is the prayer traditionally uttered to commemorate the departed, despite its absence of explicit references to death. This prayer is integrated into each of the three daily prayer services. It is recited by mourner’s commemorating a yahrzeit.

TEXT IN ARAMAIC (From Sefaria):

 יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
 יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא
 יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא
לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא בעשי”ת: לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
עושה שָׁלום בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן

TEXT TRANSLITERATED:

Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba

b’alma di v’ra chir’utei; v’yamlich malchutei b’hayeichon u-v’yomeichon, uv’hayei d’chol beit yisrael, ba-agala u-vi-z’man kariv, v’imru amen.

Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam u-l’almei almaya.

Yitbarach v’yishtabah, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam, v’yitnasei v’yit-hadar, v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’kudsha, b’rich hu,

l’ela min kol birchata v’shirata, tushb’hata v’nehemata, da-amiran b’alma, v’imru amen.

Y’hei sh’lama raba min sh’maya, v’hayim, aleinu v’al koi yisrael, v’imru amen.

Oseh shalom bi-m’romav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol yisrael, v’imru amen.

TEXT IN ENGLISH (From My Jewish Learning):

Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world
which He has created according to His will.

May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days,
and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon;
and say, Amen.

May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.

Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored,
adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He,
beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that
are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

He who creates peace in His celestial heights,
may He create peace for us and for all Israel;
and say, Amen.