Search results for: ""Yahrzeit""

Yahrzeit: Candle: How Many Candles: One per Household
For a deceased parent on a yahrzeit or yizkor day, only one candle needs to be lit in each home where any of a parent's children are at sunset of that evening.
Examples
  • If two siblings (or more) are in the same residence on the night of the yahrzeit, just light one yahrzeit candle.
  • If all siblings are in different homes, each sibling lights one yahrzeit candle.

Yahrzeit: Candle: How Many Candles: Yahrzeit and Yizkor
One candle is lit on the yahrzeit/anniversary of the date a parent died.
Note If both parents died on the same day, light two candles on the yahrzeit day (but only one on yizkor day).
Yahrzeit: Candle: Day of Yahrzeit
Lighting a yahrzeit candle on the yahrzeit of a parent is a universal custom but not a halacha.
Yahrzeit: Timing
If the person was buried before the passage of two sunsets after death:
  • Yahrzeit day is the anniversary date of the day he or she died.
If the person was NOT buried before the passage of two sunsets after death:
  • First yahrzeit is one year after the day he/she was buried.
  • Subsequent yahrzeits will be on the day he/she died.
 
Jewish Festivals: Yahrzeit Candle
Some people have the custom of lighting a yahrzeit candle for a deceased parent on days when yizkor is said: Yom Kippur, last day of Passover; second day of Shavuot; and on Shmini Atzeret.
Fasting on Yahrzeit of Parents
It is a good custom (but not halacha) to fast on the yahrzeit of one's parents, since it is a kind of repentance (teshuva).
Pre-Yom Kippur: Yahrzeit Candle
On Yom Kippur, it is a universal custom to light one candle if one or both parents are deceased. Every married couple also lights one candle for themselves and their children (if any).
Priority of Synagogue Members
In leading the prayers, members of a synagogue have priority over ANY non-member, regardless of status.  Next in priority:
  • Yahrzeit up to second ashrei;
  • Mourner within 30 days;
  • Mourner after 30 days.
  Exception A mourner from out of town may lead one prayer service.
Jewish Festivals: Cooking from an Existing Flame
You may cook food on all Jewish festivals (except Yom Kippur or when they coincide with Shabbat) as long as the fire, oven, or other cooking appliance:
  • Has been on since before the Jewish festival began, OR
  • Is lit during the Jewish festival from an existing flame, such as from a pilot light or yahrzeit candle lit before the Jewish festival began.