The murmured words of Yizkor echo in the upper worlds
Many of us have childhood memories of scampering out of shul when the gabbai banged on the bimah and announced loudly: “Yizkor.”
As we waited outside shul, we wondered what was transpiring within. What was it about Yizkor that brought non-shul-goers out a few times a year? Even the mere mention of Yizkor sends chills up our spine. What indeed is the power of Yizkor, and why do the children leave the shul during this service?
Originally, the chachamim instituted the recital of Yizkor on Yom Kippur. Midrash Tanchuma on Ha’azinu explains that the words “Forgive Your people Israel” at the end of Shoftim refer to those who are living, and that the words in the continuation of the pasuk, “whom You have redeemed” refer to those who have passed away. Hence, the day is actually referred to in the Torah as Yom HaKippurim, in the plural, since both the living and the dead are granted forgiveness.
The word “Yizkor” is usually understood as “Hashem remembers,” meaning that in the merit of our tefillos and good deeds, Hashem should remember our loved ones who have died and allow them to move closer to the Shechinah.
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