Jewish family memory
Yizkor: meaning and family-history use
Yizkor is a memorial prayer. In family records, distinguish references to the prayer or service from yahrzeit dates and from a community's memorial book.
By Pinkas · Updated September 28, 2026
How to record it in a family archive
Keep the document's exact title and explain its context. If a family has a printed memorial list, record the congregation, edition, year, and who supplied the copy.
A practical example
A name appearing in a Yizkor booklet does not by itself establish a date of death. Cite it for what it actually records and look for a separate date source.
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.