The Yizkor prayers are said in the Synagogue on four occasions during the year. On the last day of each of the Festivals of Pesach, Shavu'ot and Sukkot and on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. In these prayers we ask God to 'remember' the souls of family and friends who have passed away. In reality it is an opportunity for us to dwell on the memories of our departed relatives, to remember them as they were and to draw inspiration from their lives.

The Jewish Festivals are essentially family occasions. In ancient times families would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate the occasion, together, at the Temple. In modern times it is often an opportunity for parents, children and grandchildren to join together for synagogue services and celebratory meals. It is an appropriate occasion to remember those members of the family that have passed on and to reflect on their contribution to our lives.

The Yizkor prayers include an undertaking to give a donation to charity in memory of the deceased. Just as in Temple times, visitors to Jerusalem were obliged to give what they could afford to the Temple funds so, too, we pledge to make our own donation to charity. By performing this mitzvah in the name of the deceased, we share the credit with them and enhance the status of their memory (for more about this concept see Giving Charity).

This is especially significant in connection with the Yizkor of Yom Kippur, when Atonement is sought by the living for themselves as well as for departed generations.

Traditionally, the Yizkor service also incorporates prayers that invoke the memory of relatives who were martyred for being Jewish, and many communities also include a special prayer for those who have died in the defence of the State of Israel.

In our generation when we think of martyrs, our thoughts go directly to the six million Jewish people - many, possibly, who were our relatives - who were killed during the Nazi Holocaust. However prayers for those who gave up their lives for their faith have always been included in prayer books, demonstrating graphically that Jews throughout the ages have had to face the possibility of violent death at the hand of those who cannot abide our existence.

The Yizkor service consists of the following prayers

• The Yizkor prayers, individually read for each departed parent and close relative. In these prayers we mention the deceased by name and we ask God to 'remember' his/her soul. In return we pledge to make a donation to charity.
  Most prayer books (and this website) include prayers for one's father, one's mother and also for martyred members of one's family.

• El male rachamim (The Memorial Prayer). In this memorial prayer we ask God to 'grant perfect rest' to the souls of our deceased relatives, again mentioned by name. Once again we pledge to give a sum of money to charity in the name of the deceased and we pray that the reward derived from the performance of this mitzvah will accrue to their merit.
  Three versions of El male rachamim are printed in prayer books and are provided on this website: for male relatives, for female relatives and for martyrs.

• The Av Harachamim Memorial Prayer in which we ask God to remember the many Jewish communities that have been destroyed through the ages and to requite their spilled blood.

In many communities, those who have both parents living have the custom to leave the synagogue during the first part of the Yizkor service, returning when the congregation recite the Av Harachamim Memorial Prayer.

The Yizkor prayers are available on this website.