Chloe Adams
Yahrzeit candles are lit in memory of the dead in Judaism. The word yahrzeit means anniversary or anniversary of a person's death in Yiddish, and the candles are also known as memorial candles. The tradition of lighting a yahrzeit candle comes from the Book of Proverbs 20:27, The soul of man is a candle of the Lord. Mourners light the candle on the anniversary of the death of their loved one, and it burns for 24 hours. The candle is also lit on Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, the final day of Pesach, and Shavuot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Yahrzeit candle, Yahrtzeit candle, memorial candle, soul candle, anniversary candle |
| Etymology | Hebrew: נר נשמה (ner neshama, meaning "soul candle"); Yiddish: יאָרצײַט ליכט (yortsayt likht, meaning "anniversary candle") |
| Definition | A type of candle that is lit in memory of the dead in Judaism |
| Religious Text | The custom of lighting a yahrzeit candle comes from the Book of Proverbs 20:27, "The soul of man is a candle of the Lord." |
| Duration | Burns for 24-26 hours |
| Timing | Lit at sundown on the anniversary of the death on the Hebrew calendar |
| Location | Inside one's home or near the grave of the deceased |
| Occasions | Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, final day of Pesach, Shavuot, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Shiva |
| Other Names | Yizkor candles |
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What You'll Learn
Yahrzeit candles are lit on the anniversary of a death
Yahrzeit candles are lit on the anniversary of a person's death, with the word "yahrzeit" meaning "anniversary" in Yiddish. The tradition is a custom in Judaism, with the candle lit to remember a life and honour the dead. The candle is lit at sundown, with the day in Hebrew and Jewish calendars starting at sundown. The candle is left to burn for 24 hours, or 25 hours in some cases, and is extinguished on its own.
The tradition is not a requirement of Jewish religious law, but it is a widespread practice that is deeply ingrained in Jewish life. The candle is lit inside the home, or near the grave of the deceased. The candle is also lit on Yom Kippur and on the dates when the yizkor memorial prayer is said (Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, the final day of Pesach, and Shavuot).
The yahrzeit candle is also lit during the shiva, a seven-day mourning period, with a larger candle used for this occasion. The candle is also lit on Holocaust Remembrance Day, and on other Jewish holidays, including Passover, Sukkot, and Rosh Hashana. The candle is lit before these holidays, so a flame is available if needed, as it is forbidden to light a new fire during these holidays.
The yahrzeit candle is also known as a memorial candle, with the Hebrew meaning being "soul candle". The candle is symbolic of the soul, with the candle flame and soul having a similar essence, as described in the Book of Proverbs: "The soul of man is the candle of God".
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They are also lit on Yom Kippur
Yahrzeit candles are a type of candle that is lit in memory of the dead in Judaism. The word "yahrzeit" is a Yiddish word meaning "anniversary of a death". The lighting of these candles is a widely practised custom, where mourners light a candle that burns for 24 hours on the anniversary of the death on the Hebrew calendar.
Yahrzeit candles are also lit on Yom Kippur, which is devoted to prayer, fasting, and reflection. This is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. The candle is lit before sundown on the eve of Yom Kippur, allowing individuals to honour those who have passed. This is because in Judaism, days begin at sundown.
The custom of lighting a yahrzeit candle comes from the Book of Proverbs 20:27, "The soul of man is a candle of the Lord". The candle flame is often thought to symbolise the human soul, and the flickering flame of the yahrzeit candle helps to remind us of the departed soul of our loved one.
Havdalah after Yom Kippur requires a fire that has burned since before the holiday, and yahrzeit candles are often used for this purpose. The candle is lit before the fast beginning on Yom Kippur. Yahrzeit candles are also lit on the four Jewish holidays that include a Yizkor, or Jewish memorial service: Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, Passover, and Shavuot.
The lighting of yahrzeit candles is a way to honour the memory of loved ones and plays an important role in Jewish mourning rituals.
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They are used during the shiva, the first seven days of mourning
Yahrzeit candles are used during the shiva, the first seven days of mourning. The word "yahrzeit" means "anniversary of a death" in Yiddish, and the candles are lit in memory of the dead in Judaism. The custom of lighting a yahrzeit candle comes from the Book of Proverbs 20:27: "The soul of man is a candle of the Lord."
The candle is lit during the shiva, usually a larger one that lasts the entire seven days. In the absence of a seven-day Shiva candle, seven yahrzeit candles can be lit on successive days (but not on Shabbat). The candle is typically lit before sundown, as days in Judaism begin at sundown. Mourners keep the candle lit for 24 or 25 hours, allowing it to burn out by sunset on the day of the yahrzeit.
Yahrzeit candles are often lit on holidays and days of remembrance, such as Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, Passover, and Shavuot. They are also lit on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and at memorial sites. The candle is usually lit in the house, but some may choose to light an additional candle in the synagogue, specifically where the departed prayed.
Today, some people use electric yahrzeit candles for safety reasons, especially in places like hospitals.
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Yahrzeit candles are lit on Holocaust Remembrance Day
Yahrzeit candles are a type of candle that is lit in memory of the dead in Judaism. The word "yahrzeit" comes from the Yiddish word for "anniversary" or the "anniversary of a person's death". The custom of lighting a yahrzeit candle comes from the Book of Proverbs 20:27, which says, "The soul of man is a candle of the Lord".
Yahrzeit candles are lit on the anniversary of a loved one's death, with the candle burning for 24 hours from sundown on the eve of the yahrzeit to sunset on the day of the yahrzeit. The candle is usually lit inside one's home or near the grave of the deceased. It is also customary to light the candle during the shiva, the first seven days of mourning, with a larger candle that lasts the entire seven days.
Yahrzeit candles are also lit on Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, to remember the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. The Yellow Candle™ program was created in 1981 by FJMC clubs in Canada, New England, and elsewhere to keep alive the memory of those who died in the Shoah. The candle is lit in homes across the globe to shine a light of memory and education and to ensure that such heinous crimes never happen again.
The candle is also lit before Yom Kippur and on the four Jewish holidays that include a Yizkor, or Jewish memorial, service: Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, the final day of Pesach, and Shavuot. On these holidays, it is forbidden to light a new fire, but it is permitted to light one flame from an existing flame for certain purposes, so a yahrzeit candle is lit before the holiday to provide a flame that can be used if needed.
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They are lit on the four Jewish holidays that include a Yizkor memorial service
Yahrzeit candles are lit on the four Jewish holidays that include a Yizkor memorial service: Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, Passover (or Pesach) and Shavuot. The candles are lit before sundown on the eve of the holiday and are often lit in the place of eating, including at home and in the synagogue.
The word "yahrzeit" means "anniversary" in Yiddish, and more specifically, it refers to the anniversary of a person's death. The Yiddish word originates from the German words "jahr", meaning "year", and "zeit", meaning "time". The lighting of the yahrzeit candle is a custom that is widely practised by Jews, and it is believed to symbolise the soul of the departed. The candle is lit for 24 hours, from sundown on the eve of the yahrzeit to sunset on the day of the yahrzeit, and it is left to extinguish on its own.
The four Jewish holidays that include a Yizkor memorial service are as follows:
- Yom Kippur: Yahrzeit candles are lit before this day of fasting.
- Shemini Atzeret: The eighth day of Sukkot, which is one of the three festivals where Yizkor is said.
- Passover (or Pesach): Yahrzeit candles are lit on the evening prior to the last day of Passover.
- Shavuot: One of the three festivals where Yizkor is said, and a yahrzeit candle is lit before the holiday.
In addition to these four holidays, yahrzeit candles are also lit during the shiva, the first seven days of mourning.
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Frequently asked questions
A Yahrzeit candle, also called a memorial candle, is a candle that is lit in memory of the dead in Judaism. The word "Yahrzeit" means "anniversary" or "anniversary of a person's death" in Yiddish.
Yahrzeit candles are lit at sundown on the anniversary of the death of a loved one, according to the Hebrew calendar. They are also lit on the eve of Yom Kippur and on the dates when the Yizkor memorial prayer is said in synagogue (Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, the final day of Pesach, and Shavuot).
The candle flame is often believed to symbolize the human soul, with the flickering flame of the Yahrzeit candle reminding us of the departed soul of a loved one. The ritual of lighting candles is a long-standing Jewish custom and is also mentioned in the Book of Proverbs 20:27, "The soul of man is the candle of God."
A Yahrzeit candle traditionally burns for 24 hours. If a candle is unavailable or there are safety concerns, an electric memorial light may be used instead.
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