Yahrzeit Calculator

Yahrzeit Calendar

Different religions and cultures have their own guidelines regarding grieving the loss of a loved one. The traditional Jewish remembrance ritual is called the Yahrzeit. Below is an explanation of the meaning of Yahrzeit and its importance, as well as a tool that will help you set dates on which you should honor each of your passed loved ones.

Under Jewish law, there is a structured period of mourning that family members should follow. The Yahrzeit is an annual ritual that encourages mourners to remember, honor, and commemorate a loved one. 

Yahrzeit means anniversary in the Yiddish language and is the anniversary date of someone’s passing in the Jewish calendar. As a way to honor a parent’s passing, children are to observe their parent’s Yahrzeit dates by reciting the kaddish prayer. Traditionally, this observance begins on the anniversary of the Hebrew date of death with a candle being lit at sunset.

The Yahrzeit candle is designed to burn for 24 hours. Once lit, these candles should be left to burn until they extinguish on their own. Although the ritual is often completed with an actual candle, there is also the option to use an electric Yahrzeit candle to avoid any potential safety issues.
Yahrzeit Candle
The calculator below can be used to calculate Yahrzeit dates, Hebrew birthdays and Hebrew anniversaries for the next 20 years. Yahrzeit candles are often lit for close family members such as a parent, spouse, siblings, or children. It is also appropriate to light a candle for other close loved ones like a boyfriend, girlfriend, or grandparent.

Yahrzeit Calculator

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