Yizkor, a special memorial prayer for the departed, is recited 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.
The Meaning of Yizkor
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.
In this article:
Who Says Yizkor
It is customary for those with both parents alive to leave the synagogue during the Yizkor service. A mourner during the first year remains in the synagogue, but does not recite the Yizkor. Some kindle a 24-hour Yizkor candle (before the holiday).
In addition to reciting Yizkor for one's parents, one may recite Yizkor for any Jew who has passed on, including relatives and friends. When reciting Yizkor for more than one person, repeat the Yizkor paragraph each time, and substitute the words "ah-bah moh-ree" (my father), or " ee-mee moh-roh-tee" (my mother), with the appropriate title, as follows: For a Husband: "bah-ah-lee." Son: "bi-nee." Brother: "h-khee ." Uncle: "doh-dee." Grandfather: "zi-kay-nee" . Wife: " ee-shtee." Daughter: "bee-tee." Sister: "ah-khoh-tee." Aunt: "doh-dah-tee." Grandmother: "zi-kayn-tee."
Text of Yizkor
For a father (and all males) say:
Hebrew and Transliteration:
Yeez-kohr eh-loh-heem nee-shmaht ah-bah moh-ree (husband: bah-ah-lee son: bi-nee brother: ah-khee uncle: doh-dee grandfather: zi-kay-nee) (mention Hebrew name and his mother's name) sheh-hah-lakh loh-lah-moh. Bah-ah-voor sheh-beely nay-dehr eh-tayn tzdah-kah bah-ah-doh bee-skhahr zeh ti-ha nahf-shoh tzroo-rah beetz-rohr hah-khah-yeem eem nee-shmaht ahv-rah-hahm yeetz-khahk vi-yah-ah-kohv sah-orah reev-kah rah-khayl vi-lay-ah. Veem shahr tzah-dee-keem vi-tzeed-koh-nee-oht shehb-gahn ay-dehn vi-noh-mahr: ah-mayn.
יִזְכּוֹר אֱלֹהִים נִשְׁמַת אָבָא מוֹרִי (בַּעֲלִי, בְּנִי, אָחִי, דוֹדִי, זְקֵנִי) (שם בן שם) שֶׁהָלַךְ לְעוֹלָמוֹ, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁבִּלי נֵדֶר אֶתֵּן צְדָקָה בַּעֲדוֹ, בִּשְׂכַר זֶה תְּהֵא נַפְשׁוֹ צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים, עִם נִשְׁמָת אַבְרָהָם, יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, שָׂרָה, רִבְקָה, רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, וְעִם שְׁאָר צַדִיקִים וְצִדְקוֹנִיוֹת שֶׁבְּגַן עֵדֶן, וְנוֹאמַר: אָמֵן.
Translation:
May G‑d remember the soul of my father, my teacher (mention his Hebrew name and that of his mother) who has gone to his [supernal] world, because I will — without obligating myself with a vow — donate charity for his sake. In this merit, may his soul be bound up in the bond of life with the souls of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, and with the other righteous men and women who are in Gan Eden; and let us say, Amen.
For a mother (and all females) say:
Hebrew and Transliteration:
Yeez-kohr eh-loh-heem nee-shmaht ee-mee moh-roh-tee (wife: ee-shtee daughter: bee-tee sister: ah-khoh-tee aunt: doh-dah-tee grandmother: zi-kayn-tee) (mention Hebrew name and her mother's name) sheh-hahl-khah loh-lah-mah bah-ah-voor sheh-beely nay-dehr eh-tayn tzdah-kah bah-ah-dah bee-skhahr zeh ti-hay nahf-sah-oh tzroo-rah beetz-rohr hah-khah-yeem eem nee-shmaht ahv-rah-hahm yeetz-khahk vi-yah-ah-kohv sah-rah reev-kah rah-khayl vi-lay-ah veem shahr tzah-dee-keem vi-tzeed-koh-nee-oht shehb-gahn ay-dehn vi-noh-mahr: ah-mayn.
יִזְכּוֹר אֱלֹהִים נִשְׁמַת אִמִּי מוֹרוֹתִי (אִשְׁתִּי, בִּתִּי, אֲחוֹתִי, דּוֹדָתִי, זְקֵנְתִּי) (שם בת שם) שֶׁהָלְכָה לְעוֹלָמָהּ, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁבִּלי נֵדֶר אֶתֵּן צְדָקָה בַּעֲדָהּ, בִּשְׂכַר זֶה תְּהֵא נַפְשָׁהּ צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים, עִם נִשְׁמַת אַבְרָהָם, יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, שָׂרָה, רִבְקָה, רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, וְעִם שְׁאָר צַדִיקִים וְצִדְקוֹנִיוֹת שֶׁבְּגַן עֵדֶן, וְנוֹאמַר: אָמֵן.
Translation:
May G‑d remember the soul of my mother, my teacher (mention her Hebrew name and that of her mother) who has gone to her [supernal] world, because I will - without obligating myself with a vow - donate charity for her sake. In this merit, may her soul be bound up in the bond of life with the souls of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, and with the other righteous men and women who are in Gan Eden; and let us say, Amen.
Continue here:
Ahv hah-rah-khah-meem shoh-khayn mi-roh-meem bi-rah-khah-mahv hah-ah-tzoo-meem hoo yeef-kohd bi-rah-khah-meem hah-khah-see-deem vi-hai-sah-oreem vi-haht-mee-meem khee-loht hahk-desh sheh-mahs-roo nahf-sah-om ahl ki-desh-aht hah-say-om hah-nah-eh-hah-veem vi-hah-nee-meem bi-khah-yay-hehm oov-moh-tahm loh neef-rah-doo. Meen-sah-oreem kah-loo oo-may-ah-rah-yoht gah-vay-roo lah-ah-sooht ri-tzohn koh-nahm vi-khay-fehtz tzoo-rahm. Yeez-kraym eh-loh-hay-noo li-toh-vah eem shor tzah-dee-kay oh-lahm vi-yeen-kohm neek-maht dahm ah-vah-dahv hah-shfookh. Kah-kah-toov bi-toh-raht moh-sheh eesh hah-eh-loh-heem. Hahr-nee-noo goh-yeem ah-moh kee dahm ah-vah-dahv yee-kohm vi-nah-kahm yah-sheev li-tzrahv vi-khee-fehr ahd-mah-toh ah-moh. Vi-ahl yi-day ah-vah-deh-khah hah-nah-vee-eem kah-toov lay-mohr. Vi-nah-kay-tee dah-mahm loh nah-kay-tee vah-ah-doh-noi soh-khayn bi-tzee-ohn oov-kheet-vay hahk-desh neh-eh-mahr. Lah-mah yohm-roo hah-goh-yeem ah-yayh eh-loh-hay-hehm yeev-dah bah-goh-yeem lay-nay-noo neek-maht dahm ah-vah-deh-khah hah-shfookh. Voh-mayr: Kee doh-raysh dah-meem oh-tahm zi-khahr loh sah-okhakh tzah-ah-kaht ah-nah-veem. Voh-mayr: Yah-deen bah-goh-yeem mah-lay gi-vee-oht mah-khahtz rohsh ahl eh-rehtz rah-bah. Mee-nah-khohl bah-deh-rekh yee-shtah ahl kayn yah-reem rohsh.
אָב הָרַחֲמִים שׁוֹכֵן מְרוֹמִים, בְּרַחֲמָיו הָעֲצוּמִים, הוּא יִפְקוֹד בְּרַחֲמִים, הַחֲסִידִים וְהַיְשָׁרִים וְהַתְּמִימִים, קְהִלּוֹת הַקְדֶשׁ שֶׁמָּסְרוּ נַפְשָׁם עַל קְדֶשַׁת הַשֵׁם, הַנָּאֶהָבִים וְהַנְעִימִים בְּחַיֵּיהֶם, וּבְמוֹתָם לֹא נִפְרָדוּ. מִנְשָׁרִים קַלּוּ, וּמֵאֲרָיוֹת גָּבֵרוּ, לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן קוֹנָם וְחֵפֶץ צוּרָם. יִזְכְּרֵם אֱלֹהֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה, עִם שְׁאָר צַדִּיקֵי עוֹלָם, וְיִנְקוֹם נִקְמַת דַּם עֲבָדָיו הַשְׁפוּךְ. כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים: הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ, כִּי דַם עֲבָדָיו יִקְוֹם, וְנָקָם יָשִׁיב לְצְרָיו, וְכִפֶר אַדְמָתוֹ עַמּוֹ. וְעַל יְדֵי עֲבָדֶיךָ הַנָּבִיאִים כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר: וְנַקֵיתִי דָּמָם לֹא נַקֵיתִי, וַיְיָ שֹׁכֵן בְּצִיּוֹן, וּבְכִתְבֵי הַקְדֶשׁ נֶאֱמַר: לָמָּה יֹאמְרוּ הַגּוֹיִם אַיֵּה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם, יִוְדַע בַּגּוֹיִם לְעֵינֵינוּ נִקְמַת דַּם עֲבָדֶיךָ הַשְׁפוּךְ. וְאוֹמֵר: כִּי דוֹרֵשׁ דָּמִים אוֹתָם זְכָר, לֹא שָׁכַח צַעֲקַת עֲנָוִים. וְאוֹמֵר: יָדִין בַּגּוֹיִם מָלֵא גְוִיּוֹת, מָחַץ רֹאשׁ עַל אֶרֶץ רַבָּה. מִנַּחַל בַּדֶּרֶךְ יִשְׁתָּה, עַל כֵּן יָרִים רֹאשׁ:
Translation:
May the All-Merciful Father Who dwells in the supernal heights, in His profound compassion, remember with mercy the pious, the upright and the perfect ones, the holy communities who gave their lives for the sanctification of the Divine Name.
They were beloved and pleasant in their lives, and [even] in their death were not parted [from Him]; they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions to carry out the will of their Maker and the desire of their Creator.
May our G‑d remember them with favor together with the other righteous of the world, and avenge the spilled blood of His servants, as it is written in the Torah of Moses, the man of G‑d: O nations, sing the praises of His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants, bring retribution upon His foes, and placate His land — His people.
And by Your servants the Prophets it is written as follows: I will cleanse [the nations of their wrongdoings,] but for the [shedding of Jewish] blood I will not cleanse them; the Lord dwells in Zion.
And in the Holy Writings it is said: Why should the nations say, "Where is their G‑d?" Let there be known among the nations, before our eyes, the retribution of the spilled blood of Your servants. And it is said: For the Avenger of bloodshed is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the downtrodden. Further it is said: He will render judgment upon the nations, and they will be filled with corpses; He will crush heads over a vast area. He will drink from the stream on the way; therefore [Israel] will hold its head high.
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