Page 3 - Temple Israel Yizkor book 5781
P. 3
The words of the memorial prayer
EI Malei Rachamim
(“O God full of compassion”) is a petition for the repose
of the deceased and an expression of our faith in the
ultimate sacredness of humankind.
Death removes our loved ones from their earthly
abode, yet Jewish tradition affirms the faith that the
divine spark in every human soul has a permanent
dwelling place with the Eternal.
The mystery of what lies beyond the grave is
shrouded by an impenetrable veil, yet within our
hearts is planted the hope for eternity. Memory is
the sacred link between past and future and
between time and eternity.
Immortality is a word which we can associate only
with God, but the blessing of memory and the
blessedness of the memory of the righteous can be
guaranteed by our devoted recall.
The mitzvah of Yizkor is a door that opens on
eternity, making the present more significant by
allowing us to combine memory and hope.
Gates of the Season:
A Guide to the Jewish Year
3
