Community at Temple Israel
Rabbi’s Message – April 17, 2025
As we gather for Shabbat services tomorrow night, we will also take a moment to recite the Yizkor, our prayers of remembrance. Yizkor has become an important part of our Yom Kippur and festival observances. There was a great article written last year by Rabbi Shlomo Brody that traces the origins of our Yizkor prayers. Click here to read Rabbi Brody’s article.
The Yizkor prayer itself originated in the wake of the Crusades of 1096, when Jewish communities in Ashkenaz (the Rhineland) suffered brutal attacks. Although the practice initially faced rabbinic opposition, Yizkor became a steadfast part of Jewish practice. Over time, in response to later communal tragedies, the prayers Av HaRachamim and El Malei Rachamim were written and have been included in the Yizkor service.
By the 17th century, Yizkor became a fixture of the three pilgrimage festivals—Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. It has been suggested that this may have been linked to the biblical law of not appearing before God “empty-handed” on these festivals. I prefer to understand it as reinforcing that remembrance is not passive but active—it’s a commitment to uphold the values of those who came before us.
During our High Holidays, we read the words of Rabbi Aaron Panken, of blessed memory, in our liturgy: “Yizkor is, in the end, not a prayer for the dead, but a promise by the living.” I love the idea that memory is not just about looking back—it is about shaping the future. We must carry their values forward, ensuring their example continues to shape our lives and actions. And so, Yizkor is not just an act of remembering, but it is a reminder and challenge to make the world a little better in the names of those we have loved and lost.
Zichronam l’vracha, may their memories always and only be for a blessing.