YIZKOR - MEMORIAL PRAYER
We Jews may forget things from time to time, but one thing we never forget - we never forget to remember. We say Yizkor, a special memorial prayer for the departed, in the synagogue four times a year, following the Torah reading on the last day of Passover, on the second day of Shavuot, on Shemini Atzeret and on Yom Kippur.
Yizkor, in Hebrew, means "Remember." It is not only the first word of the prayer, it also represents its overall theme. In this prayer, we implore G‑d to remember the souls of our relatives and friends that have passed on. When we recite Yizkor, we renew and strengthen the connection between us and our loved one, bringing merit to the departed souls, elevating them in their celestial homes.
The main component of Yizkor is our private pledge to give charity following the holiday in honor of the deceased. By giving charity, we are performing a positive physical deed in this world, something that the departed can no longer do. The soul gains additional merit if the memory of its good deeds spurs loved ones to improve their ways. For more on Yizkor, CLICK HERE.
Separate children’s service (RSVP required) on both days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, from 11:00 to 12:30, led by the Rabbi’s daughter - with snacks, entertainment & children’s activities - so come as a family!
“God is always close to us, but we are not always close to God. How then do we come close to Him? Some religions assume that, first we have an experience of God, then we decide to lead a religious life. In Judaism we assume the opposite: first we lead a religious life; only then, slowly, falteringly, do we begin to have the experience. ‘We will do, then we will understand’, said our ancestors at Mount Sinai. So it is in all matters of the soul. We learn to love music by listening to music. We learn to be generous by performing acts of generosity. ‘The heart follows the deed’, said the medieval classic Sefer ha-Chinnuch. Don’t expect to have faith or find God by waiting for Him to find us.
We have to begin the journey. Where we begin doesn’t matter, so long as we begin. Then God meets us halfway.”