Kehilah Kol Shalom ( A Messianic Community)

This Page is dedicated to those who have come and gone from this world and during their stay have touched the lives of  our members and the community around them. Kehilah Kol Shalom Members and Family are indicated by **  May HaShem smile upon them .

What is Yahrzeit and  Yahrzeit Candle?

A Yahrzeit (Yiddish for "a year's time") is the anniversary of the death of a loved one. In Jewish Custom (minhag) every year a  special candle is lit  that burns for 24 hours, called a Yahrzeit candle. The candle is lit on the Yahrzeit date of that person's death, as well as on certain holidays and during the initial mourning period immediately following a death.

Traditionally Yahrzeit candles are lit for the same deceased relatives that one would recite the Mourner's Kaddish for (parents, spouses, siblings, and children), but there is no reason one could not light a Yahrzeit candle to honor the anniversary of the death of someone who doesn't fall into one of these categories (i.e. a friend, grandparent, boyfriend/girlfriend, etc.). Jewish religious law (halachah) does not require lighting Yahrzeit candles, but the tradition has become an important part of Jewish life and mourning. At Kehilah Kol Shalom  we side with tradition on this and light Yahrzeit Candles for those mentioned above as well as to remember those who have been part of the family of Kehilah Kol Shalom

So When do we  light a Yahrzeit (Memorial) Candle

A Yahrzeit Candle is lit traditionally on the following days:

• Each day during the week of Shiva (mourning) immediately following a death.
• Every year at sundown on the eve of the Yahrzeit (anniversary of the death).
• Every year at sundown preceding the start of Yom Kippur and at sundown preceding the last day of the holidays of  Sukkot , Pesach , and Shavuot  These times are when the Yizkor Memorial Prayer Service usually occurs in synagogues.

Calculating a Yahrzeit Hebrew Date

The date of a Yahrzeit is traditionally calculated according to the Hebrew calendar and is the anniversary of the death, not the burial. Given the secular calendar date that the individual passed away, HebCal.com's Yahrzeit Calendar can be used to generate a list of corresponding Yahrzeit dates for the next 10 years. While the Yahrzeit date is usually calculated based on the Hebrew calendar, this is only a custom (minhag) so if someone would prefer to use the secular calendar anniversary of the death rather than the Hebrew date this is permissible.

Lighting the Yahrzeit Candle

Special Yahrzeit candles that burn for 24 hours are generally used for the Yahrzeit but any candle that will burn for 24 hours can be used. The candle is lit at sundown when the Yahrzeit date begins (in the Hebrew calendar days begin at sunset). Only one Yahrzeit candle is generally lit per household, but individual family members can each light their own candle as well. If you will be leaving the candle unattended be sure to place it on a safe surface. Some families use a special Yahrzeit electric lamp instead of a candle today for safety reasons, since the candle will be burning for 24 hours.

Prayers to Recite

There are no special prayers or blessings that must be recited while lighting a Yahrzeit candle. Lighting the candle presents a moment to remember the deceased or to spend some time in introspection. Families may choose to use the candle lighting as an opportunity to share memories of the deceased with one another. Others recite appropriate Psalms such as Psalms 23, 121, 130 or 142.

The Meaning of the Yahrzeit Candle and Flame

In Jewish tradition the candle flame is often thought to symbolically represent the human soul, and lighting candles is an important part of many Jewish religious occasions from Shabbat to Passover Seders. The connection between candle flames and souls derives originally from the Book of Proverbs (chapter 20 verse 27): "The soul of man is the candle of G-d." Like a human soul, flames must breath, change, grow, strive against the darkness and, ultimately, fade away. Thus, the flickering flame of the Yahrzeit candle helps to remind us of the departed soul of our loved one and of the precious fragility of our life and the lives of our loved ones, life that must be embraced and cherished at all times.