After the
reading of the Torah on Yom Kippur, “Yizkor” (יזכור)
is recited. The word literally means, “He will remember” and the objective of
the service is to mention the name of a deceased loved one. Typically it is a
person’s father or mother but it can also be any family member or a friend,
even if they strayed very far from the faith.
The text
basically has three paragraphs. In the first two G-d is asked to remember the named
person on the merit that the one saying the prayer will donate charity on their
behalf. In the first one it is requested that in recompense for the charity
being given that the soul of the deceased will be bound up in the bond of life
with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, and all righteous
individuals who are in the Garden of Eden. The second paragraph appeals to the
Almighty in His mercy that the deceased should rest in peace and be placed
under the wings of the divine presence. Again it is in recompense for the
charity donated in their behalf. An additional paragraph is added for those
that died violently for the sanctification of G-d’s name. The final paragraph
asks for a blessing for the donor because he is giving the charity.
The earliest
source for Yizkor is the Midrash Tanchuma, which mentions the tradition of
remembering the departed and pledging charity on their behalf on Yom Kippur. The
Ramah in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 631:6) institutes this as a custom. The
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch brings two reasons for the practice. The first is that
mentioning deceased breaks a person person’s heart and causes him to be
submissive specifically on the day of judgement. The second reason is that the
deceased may also require repentance and the fact that somebody was moved to
pray for them and give charity in their name elevates their standing in the
world to come. Because, when it stood, it was an obligation to bring a gift to Temple,
the custom of saying Yizkor and giving charity on behalf of the deceased on
other Jewish holidays also was established.
The message of
Yizkor on Yom Kippur is that our stay in this world is transient and short with
much to do. However old we may be, it does not seem like it was such a long
time ago that our family and friends were with us. Not only that, but just like
they had to give an accounting to the Ribono shel Olam so too will we. However
just like motivating a family member or a friend to pray and give charity on
their behalf is a merit, so to we would like to have a good influence on
others, This is not just while we are alive in this world, but also after we
have passed on into the next world. Plus just like we want loved ones to take
pleasure from radiance of the divine presence in the Garden of Eden with the
patriarchs, matriarchs, and the righteous of the Jewish people, we also want
that to be our final resting place.
The reality of
death upsets us. However it also motivates us to recognize like all people we
make mistakes and fall short of the mark from time to time. Because of this we
recognize and resolve to correct or errors and make wise use of our resources
so that our place in this world and the next will be a good one.
לע"נ מאיר בן חיים ז"ל נלב"ע כה תשרי תשנ"ב
העלון ניתן לקבל בדואר אלקטרוני וגם באתר
http://dyschreiber.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment