“What’s brave, what’s noble… And make death proud to take us.”

–  Antony and Cleopatra, IV, 13, William Shakespeare (1607)

The High Holidays focus on The Book of Life being inscribed, then sealed therein. And yet, the most heavily attended service at the climax, Yom Kippur, is The Book of Death: “Yizkor! Remember!”

As a community accommodation, some Shuls offer extra, separate, stand-alone Yizkor services to non-members, commonly standing-room only.

Why is the demand so great?

Because it is our only formal religious opportunity to sanctify our departed loved-ones by name. Reciting Kaddish, we memorialize them anonymously. Yizkor allows us the satisfaction of reciting that precious name we love, and miss.

There’s something else unique about it. Unlike Kaddish, we........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)