Jewish family memory
Yahrzeit: meaning and family-history use
A yahrzeit is an annual remembrance of a death according to the Jewish calendar. Families should retain the source date and the observance practice used to calculate future occurrences.
By Pinkas · Updated September 28, 2026
How to record it in a family archive
Record the name, original date, place, sunset information if known, and the person who verified the date. Preserve uncertain fields instead of filling them with assumptions.
A practical example
A future civil-calendar reminder is an occurrence, not the original event date. Keep both fields so the schedule can be checked later.
Keep the original context
A glossary definition helps orient a reader; it cannot resolve an individual document, identity, or observance question. Save the original source and note who supplied any interpretation. Ask a qualified reader or the relevant community authority when the context is unclear.