Blog

By: Rabbi Dana Saroken 

Our hearts break when we lose someone that we love. Then, for the first 11 months, Judaism guides us through grief. Beginning with burial, shiva, shloshim (the first 30 days), and then come the next ten months and an unveiling. Then what? What many people do not know is that we have a structure for "remembering" our loved ones, a structure that takes us through the rest of our lives. Five times a year (the yahrzeit or anniversary of death) plus four other days to do intentional remembering. 

These four other days include Yom Kippur, the last day of Passover, the second day of Shavuot, and the eighth day of Sukkot (Shemini Atzeret). Carving out four days to reconnect with our loved ones who have passed is simply "good for the soul of the living." And yet we also know that fewer people come to recite the prayers for loved ones, and to mark the passing of time in the community. 

We get it: it's hard to take off of an entire morning from work, there are kids and grandchildren to be shuffled around, meals to be made, mouths to feed, and exercise routines to be followed. So we created a "Yizkor Only" service. This means: You get to show up at 8:15 am and light a candle, recite an Al Malei prayer for the person or people that you've loved and lost, recite the Kaddish and do some remembering in a meaningful way. You can grab a cup of iced coffee or tea, and a muffin on the way out the door at 8:45 am and be wherever you need to be soon after. Come give Yizkor a try. It really is good for your soul, good for the souls of the people you've loved and good for the Jewish People. 

Pop in or email Julie Hettleman (julie@soulcenterbaltimore.org) to let us know you're coming.

YIZKOR: A REMEMBERING RITUAL with Rabbi Saroken Monday, October 21 @ 8:15 am