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.