What is the Yizkor memorial prayer?

Yizkor is a Jewish memorial prayer recited for deceased relatives, asking God to remember the souls of the departed and linking charitable pledges (tzedakah) made by the living to the spiritual benefit of those who have passed. The prayer expresses the belief that the souls of the righteous rest in Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden) and are bound up in the "bond of life" (tzror ha-chayyim) alongside the souls of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs.

Key Takeaways

Yizkor means "May God remember" — it is a memorial prayer for deceased relatives recited on major Jewish holidays.
The living pledge tzedakah (charity) on behalf of the deceased, believing this benefits the departed soul.
The prayer expresses hope that the soul will be "bound in the bond of life" (tzrur ha-chayyim) with the souls of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs.
Yizkor is recited on Yom Kippur following the Torah reading, and also on Shemini Atzeret, Passover, and Shavuot.
The custom reflects the deep Jewish belief in the ongoing spiritual connection between the living and the dead.

The Text and Meaning of Yizkor

The Core Prayer Formula

The Yizkor liturgy follows a consistent formula. For a father, it reads:

יִזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים נִשְׁמַת אָבִי מוֹרִי שֶׁהָלַךְ לְעוֹלָמוֹ, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁאֶתֵּן בְּלִי נֶדֶר צְדָקָה בַּעֲדוֹ. "May God remember the soul of my father, my teacher, who has gone to his world, because I will — without a vow — give charity on his behalf."

For a mother, the parallel text reads:

יִזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים נִשְׁמַת אִמִּי מוֹרָתִי שֶׁהָלְכָה לְעוֹלָמָהּ... "May God remember the soul of my mother, my teacher, who has gone to her world..."

[Yizkor 2 and Yizkor 4, Liturgy]

The Closing Blessing

Both formulas conclude with the same petition:

בִּשְׂכַר זֶה תְּהֵא נַפְשׁוֹ/נַפְשָׁהּ צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים עִם נִשְׁמַת אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, וְעִם שְׁאָר צַדִּיקִים וְצִדְקָנִיּוֹת שֶׁבְּגַן עֵדֶן. וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן. "In reward for this, may his/her soul be bound in the bond of life with the souls of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, and with the rest of the righteous men and women in the Garden of Eden. And let us say: Amen."

[Yizkor 2 and Yizkor 4, Liturgy]

The phrase tzrur ha-chayyim (bond of life) originates in Abigail's blessing to David in [I Samuel 25:29]: "the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bond of life with the Lord your God."

When Is Yizkor Recited?

Yizkor is recited four times a year:

Yom Kippur — following the Torah reading [Machzor Yom Kippur Ashkenaz, Memorial Services 1]
Shemini Atzeret (the final day of Sukkot)
The last day of Passover
Shavuot

These are all days when the congregation gathers together for Torah reading, creating a moment of communal solemnity appropriate for memorial prayer.

Key Theological Concepts

1. Tzedakah for the Dead

The pledge of tzedakah "without a vow" (b'li neder) is central to the prayer. The phrase b'li neder is a legal safeguard — if one says "I will give charity" without this qualifier, it becomes a binding neder (vow), a serious halachic matter. The underlying theology is that good deeds performed by the living can benefit the souls of the departed — a concept known as zekhut ha-chayyim (the merit of the living).

2. Souls in Gan Eden

The prayer asks that the soul rest "with the rest of the righteous men and women in Gan Eden" — reflecting the traditional Jewish belief in Olam Ha-Ba (the World to Come) and the continued existence of the soul after death.

3. Connection to the Patriarchs and Matriarchs

By linking the soul to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, the prayer places the deceased within the chain of Jewish tradition — a powerful affirmation of klal Yisrael (the collective of Israel) extending across generations.

The Broader Context: Remembering the Dead in Jewish Liturgy

The Selichot (penitential prayers) recited before Rosh Hashanah include a similar theme. The prayer Makhnisei Rachamim calls on angels to bring our prayers and tears before God, asking them to:

הַזְכִּירוּ לְפָנָיו... תּוֹרָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים שֶׁל שׁוֹכְנֵי עָפָר "Recall before Him... the Torah and good deeds of those who dwell in the dust."

[Selichot Nusach Polin and Nusach Ashkenaz Lita, First Day 10:3]

This connects Yizkor to the broader High Holiday theme of divine memory and judgment — God "remembering" the merits of both the living and the dead.

The Custom for Those Whose Parents Are Living

A well-known custom (minhag) holds that those whose both parents are still alive leave the synagogue during Yizkor. While the sources for this custom are debated, many authorities explain it is either to avoid ayin hara (the evil eye) or simply because the prayer does not apply to them. Many modern poskim (halachic decisors) permit those with living parents to remain and recite Yizkor for other deceased relatives.

For personal guidance on Yizkor customs and practices, consult your local rabbi or posek.