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Yizkor – A Deeper

Form of Joy Rabbi Hershel

Schachter

any believe that the an expression of the “joy of yom tov” basic obligation of these two mitzvot,
custom to recite yizkor (simchat yom tov), a way to bring joy to “it is preferable for a person to be more
during the holidays rep- the poor on yamim tovim. liberal with his donations to the poor
Mresents a solemn few than to be lavish in his preparation of
moments of sadness in the midst of Maimonides writes: “When a person the Purim feast or in sending portions
eats and drinks [in celebration of
our joy. It is also commonly believed a holiday], he is obligated to feed to his friends. For there is no greater
that those whose parents are still alive converts, orphans, widows, and
leave the sanctuary before yizkor in others who are destitute and poor. In form of simchah than to gladden the
order to avoid “opening one’s mouth contrast, a person who locks the gates hearts of the poor, the orphans, the
to the Satan” (al tiftach peh lasatan). of his courtyard and eats and drinks widows, and the converts. One who
As the recitation of yizkor is an act of with his children and his wife, without brings happiness to the hearts of these
mourning, those whose parents are feeding the poor and the embittered, is unfortunate individuals resembles G-d
alive should not be present during [not indulging in] rejoicing associated himself…” (Laws of Megillah 2:17)
yizkor, as it would imply, G-d forbid, with a mitzvah, but rather the rejoicing
that they too are in mourning. Finally, of his stomach.” (Laws of Yom Tov 6:18) In recent years, some have started a
many believe that the reason many new and most meaningful custom:
shuls have the custom to make a The Torah defines true simchah as when spending a lot of money on their
“yizkor appeal” on behalf of a charity one who brings joy to others who family bar mitzvah or wedding, they
is because many more people show are less fortunate, such as orphans, enhance the simchah by sponsoring a
up for yizkor than on other days of the widows, and converts. And so the yom bar mitzvah or wedding on behalf of
year, providing a large and captive tov appeal was established to support those who can not afford to make one
audience, and a better opportunity and bring joy to the poor and needy, on their own. This is the most glori-
for a successful fundraiser. to fulfill the mitzvah of simchah on
yom tov. Only later on was the yizkor ous way to experience simchah. Chag
Though widespread, all three of these prayer introduced; once people were sameach!
assumptions are incorrect! We always already giving charity, it was proper
recite yizkor on yom tov, when there is a to do so as a merit for their parents,
mitzvah of simchah – an obligation to be who had raised them to be kind and 1. This fact even affected observance of halachah.
joyous! Mourning and joy are mutually giving people who fulfill the mitzvah See Tosafot Gittin 59b s.v. aval.
exclusive, and so it is forbidden to of tzedakah.
observe any forms of mourning on 2. Berachot 20b. See Nefesh HaRav, 153.
yom tov. Why do those whose parents are alive
walk out of the sanctuary during
Why, then, did the custom develop to yizkor? The Talmud explains that it
recite yizkor on yom tov? doesn’t look right when everyone in
shul is praying and one individual
In the times of the Tosafists, when
the yizkor prayer was originally abstains, as it suggests the individual  A version of this essay was originally
instituted, the same number of people does not believe in the efficacy of published at TorahWeb.org.
2
would attend shul on the weekdays prayer.
as on Shabbat and yom tov. The yizkor Only last month we celebrated Purim, A member of
1
appeal was not instituted “after the when we fulfilled the special mitzvot of the Mizrachi
fact”, because so many people were mishloach manot and matanot l’evyonim. Rabbi Hershel Schachter is Rosh Yeshivah Speakers Bureau
reciting the yizkor prayer. Rather, Maimonides writes that if one can and Rosh Kollel at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan mizrachi.org/
the yizkor appeal was established as afford to go above and beyond the Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. speakers

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