Printable guideYizkor Printable Guide, PDF and Explanation
Yizkor is a Jewish memorial prayer for loved ones who have passed away, recited in many communities on several major holidays during the year. Someone searching for a printable Yizkor guide…
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The Text — Yizkor — The Memorial Service
סדר הזכרת נשמות
בשביעי של פסח (ובחו"ל באחרון של פסח) ובשבועות (ובחו"ל ביום ב' דשבועות), ובשמיני עצרת וביום הכפורים, מזכירים נשמות אחר קריאת התורה:
Yizkor is a Jewish memorial prayer for loved ones who have passed away, recited in many communities on several major holidays during the year. Someone searching for a printable Yizkor guide usually needs something simple and respectful: when Yizkor is said, what to do in practice, how to prepare, and what kind of page can be printed for a family, synagogue, classroom, or educational activity.
What Is Yizkor?
Yizkor is a memorial prayer. It asks God to remember the soul of a deceased person and connects memory, prayer, and charity in that person's merit. It is not only an act of longing. In Jewish tradition, memory becomes practical: words said in synagogue, attention to the person who is no longer here, and a commitment to give charity or do something good in their memory.
The name "Yizkor" comes from the first word of the prayer. Sefaria describes Yizkor as a set of communal memorial prayers for deceased relatives and, in some contexts, for martyrs and communities that were killed. It is therefore important to distinguish between personal Yizkor for relatives and public memorial texts for fallen soldiers, Holocaust victims, or destroyed communities.
When Is Yizkor Said?
In many communities, Yizkor is said four times a year:
On Yom Kippur.
On Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, according to local custom.
On the seventh day of Passover in Israel, or the last day of Passover in the Diaspora.
On Shavuot.
Yizkor is usually said in synagogue in the morning, after the Torah reading and before Musaf. Customs vary by community, rite, and tradition. In some places, people whose parents are living leave the synagogue during Yizkor; in other communities, there are different customs for memorial prayers, Hashkavah, or private remembrance. Before creating an official printable version, check the synagogue's custom or the machzor being used.
What Do You Do During Yizkor?
A person saying Yizkor stands with the congregation, mentions the Hebrew name of the deceased quietly, and prays for the elevation of the soul. Some communities light a memorial candle before the holiday or on the day Yizkor is said. Many people give charity near the holiday or accept a charitable commitment without making a formal vow.
You can prepare in three simple steps:
Write down the Hebrew name of the deceased and the parent's name, if your custom requires it.
Choose one good deed or act of charity in the person's memory.
Come to the prayer with quiet respect, even if you do not know every word of the text.
If someone cannot reach synagogue, some sources note that in a time of need Yizkor may be said at home and alone, while Kaddish may not be said without a minyan. For halachic uncertainty, family custom, or a sensitive personal situation, it is best to ask a rabbi or trusted community authority.
Yizkor Text: What Can Be Published Now?
Yizkor appears in machzorim and siddurim, but there are different versions: for a father, mother, spouse, children, other relatives, Holocaust victims, and fallen soldiers. Even when a traditional text may be in the public domain, vocalization, translation, layout, notes, and modern editions may be protected by copyright.
For this page, it is recommended to publish at this stage:
Original explanation of Yizkor and its meaning.
A general description of the prayer's structure.
A printable preparation page with room for the name, a good deed, and a memory prompt.
Quiz questions and a children's activity.
A clear licensing note for any future full-text module.
A short identifying phrase for context only, not a full prayer text:
Yizkor Elohim nishmat...
Children's Version: How To Explain Yizkor
You can explain it to children like this:
Yizkor is a prayer in which we remember people we love who are no longer with us. We say that their memory matters, think about the good they left in the world, and choose one good deed in their merit.
The explanation should fit the child's age and family situation. If a child is dealing with close grief, speak gently, avoid frightening language, and do not turn the prayer into a long lesson. The goal is to make room for memory, not to force emotion.
A short family or classroom activity:
Write the name of someone you want to remember, or speak about memory in general if a personal name is not right for the setting.
Complete the sentence: "I want to remember from him/her..."
Choose one small good deed in that memory: charity, help, a visit, learning, or a kind word.
Finish with a quiz question: On which holidays is Yizkor said?
What Should a Printable Yizkor Page Include?
A printable Yizkor page should be dignified, calm, and clear. It does not need to replace a machzor; it can be a preparation and guidance sheet before the prayer.
Recommended elements:
Title: "Yizkor - Short Explanation and Prayer Preparation."
A brief paragraph: what Yizkor is and when it is said.
A space for the deceased person's name and memorial date, when appropriate.
A box: "A good deed or charity I will accept without a vow."
A gentle children's explanation.
4-5 quiz questions about Yizkor, Yom Kippur, and the Jewish holidays.
Links to Yom Kippur, the Yom Kippur machzor, Ne'ilah, Kol Nidrei, and the holiday calendar.
A licensing note: full prayer text will be added only after source and rite review.
For a family PDF, keep it to one page, with generous white space and no dark background so it prints cleanly. For a community version, add the synagogue's Yizkor time and the accepted rite or machzor version.
Yom Kippur Quiz: Questions About Yizkor
The page can gently connect prayer, memory, and learning:
What does the word "Yizkor" mean?
On which four holidays is Yizkor said in many communities?
Why is charity often mentioned in Yizkor?
When is Yizkor usually said in synagogue?
What is the difference between Kaddish and Yizkor?
Why do some communities have people whose parents are living leave during Yizkor?
What good deed can be done in memory of someone loved?
Suggested CTA: Open a family Yom Kippur quiz and add a "Yizkor" round: each participant chooses one question about memory, prayer, or a good deed, and ends with one good thought in memory of someone who is no longer here.
FAQ
What is Yizkor?
Yizkor is a Jewish memorial prayer said in memory of relatives who have passed away. It combines remembrance, prayer, and charity in the merit of the soul.
When is Yizkor said?
In many communities, Yizkor is said on Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, the seventh day or last day of Passover depending on location, and Shavuot. It is usually said in the morning after the Torah reading and before Musaf.
Who says Yizkor?
Usually Yizkor is said by someone whose parent has passed away, and often by those remembering other close relatives as well. Customs vary, so it is best to follow the local synagogue custom.
Do people whose parents are alive leave during Yizkor?
In many communities, especially Ashkenazi ones, people whose parents are living leave during Yizkor. There are several customary explanations for this, but not every community follows this practice.
Can Yizkor be said at home?
Yizkor is usually said in synagogue with the congregation, but some sources allow it to be said at home and alone in a time of need. Kaddish, by contrast, requires a minyan.
Do you light a memorial candle before Yizkor?
Some families light a memorial candle on a day when Yizkor is said or before the holiday begins. The custom varies by family and community.
Can I print Yizkor text from the internet?
Only if the source, vocalization, translation, and usage rights are clear. For official publication, use a licensed source and identify the rite: Ashkenaz, Sephard, Edot HaMizrach, Chabad, or another tradition.
