Rabbi - Mekor Bracha Congregation, Philadelphia
Tonight marks the beginning of Achron Shel Pesach, the final day(s) of Pesach. On the eighth day (or seventh for those in Israel), during our tefilot, we will recite Yizkor, a special prayer to honor and remember our loved ones who have passed away. The Yizkor service on Pesach holds significant meaning, delivering a powerful message that is unique to this occasion.
As we've discussed previously, remembrance is at the heart of Pesach and is one of the central mitzvot of the Pesach seder. During this special meal, we are commanded to remember and retell the story of our Exodus from Egypt. However, our remembrance is not limited to these days of Pesach alone. The events we commemorate during this holiday must remain in our thoughts throughout the year. To fulfill this obligation, we are commanded to explicitly remember the Exodus twice daily, in addition to several other mitzvot that serve as reminders of our deliverance from slavery.
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״לְמַעַן תִּזְכֹּר אֶת יוֹם צֵאתְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ״. ״יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ״ — הַיָּמִים, ״כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ״ — הַלֵּילוֹת
Ben Zoma derived it as it is stated: “That you may remember the day you went out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life” (Deuteronomy 16:3). The days of your life, refers to daytime alone; however, the addition of the word all, as it is stated: All the days of your life, comes to add nights as well. [Berakhot 12b]
In our previous essay, Freedom of Speech, we highlighted the Rambam's [Maimonides] observation of an important connection between Pesach and Shabbat. The Rambam notes that we recite Kiddush on Shabbat for the same reason we articulate the words of the Haggadah on Pesach - the word "zachor," meaning "to remember," is a commandment given for both occasions.
It is a positive commandment of the Torah to relate the miracles and wonders wrought for our ancestors in Egypt on the night of the fifteenth of Nisan, as [Exodus 13:3] states: "Remember this day, on which you left Egypt," just as [Exodus 20:8] states: "Remember the Sabbath day."
Through this connection, perhaps the Rambam is teaching that we remember our roots on both Shabbat and Pesach. On Shabbat, we commemorate the creation of the world, and on Pesach, we commemorate the Exodus from Egypt. These acts of remembrance allow us to recognize our origins, our unique place in the world, and our special responsibilities as individual human beings as part of the Jewish nation.
This is why Yizkor holds such a strong connection to this Yom Tov. Just as remembering creation on Shabbat, and the Exodus on Pesach, helps us recognize our unique place in the world and our national origins, the act of remembering our loved ones helps us recognize our personal roots and the values that our ancestors passed down to us. We reflect on the efforts they made to bring us to where we are today, and the legacy they have left behind.
By recognizing our place in the chain of Jewish history, we are also reminded of our special role in this world. We are tasked with continuing the legacy of our loved ones and ensuring that their efforts were not in vain. As we celebrate Pesach, a holiday of remembrance, the Yizkor memorial service takes on even greater significance. It serves as a poignant reminder that we are the next link in this long, illustrious chain, and that we bear the weight of responsibility that comes with it. May their memory be a source of blessing and inspiration for us all.
זִכְר֤וּ לְעֹולָם֙ בְּרִיתֹ֔ו דָּבָ֥ר צִוָּ֖ה לְאֶ֥לֶף דֹּֽור
Be ever mindful of His covenant, the promise He gave for a thousand generations, [I Chronicles 16:15]
Tonight marks the beginning of Achron Shel Pesach, the final day(s) of Pesach. On the eighth day (or seventh for those in Israel), during our tefilot, we will recite Yizkor, a special prayer to honor and remember our loved ones who have passed away. The Yizkor service on Pesach holds significant meaning, delivering a powerful message that is unique to this occasion.
As we've discussed previously, remembrance is at the heart of Pesach and is one of the central mitzvot of the Pesach seder. During this special meal, we are commanded to remember and retell the story of our Exodus from Egypt. However, our remembrance is not limited to these days of Pesach alone. The events we commemorate during this holiday must remain in our thoughts throughout the year. To fulfill this obligation, we are commanded to explicitly remember the Exodus twice daily, in addition to several other mitzvot that serve as reminders of our deliverance from slavery.
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״לְמַעַן תִּזְכֹּר אֶת יוֹם צֵאתְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ״. ״יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ״ — הַיָּמִים, ״כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ״ — הַלֵּילוֹת
Ben Zoma derived it as it is stated: “That you may remember the day you went out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life” (Deuteronomy 16:3). The days of your life, refers to daytime alone; however, the addition of the word all, as it is stated: All the days of your life, comes to add nights as well. [Berakhot 12b]
In our previous essay, Freedom of Speech, we highlighted the Rambam's [Maimonides] observation of an important connection between Pesach and Shabbat. The Rambam notes that we recite Kiddush on Shabbat for the same reason we articulate the words of the Haggadah on Pesach - the word "zachor," meaning "to remember," is a commandment given for both occasions.
מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁל תּוֹרָה לְסַפֵּר בְּנִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם בְּלֵיל חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּנִיסָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יג ג) "זָכוֹר אֶת הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר יְצָאתֶם מִמִּצְרַיִם" כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ ח) "זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת
It is a positive commandment of the Torah to relate the miracles and wonders wrought for our ancestors in Egypt on the night of the fifteenth of Nisan, as [Exodus 13:3] states: "Remember this day, on which you left Egypt," just as [Exodus 20:8] states: "Remember the Sabbath day."
Through this connection, perhaps the Rambam is teaching that we remember our roots on both Shabbat and Pesach. On Shabbat, we commemorate the creation of the world, and on Pesach, we commemorate the Exodus from Egypt. These acts of remembrance allow us to recognize our origins, our unique place in the world, and our special responsibilities as individual human beings as part of the Jewish nation.
This is why Yizkor holds such a strong connection to this Yom Tov. Just as remembering creation on Shabbat, and the Exodus on Pesach, helps us recognize our unique place in the world and our national origins, the act of remembering our loved ones helps us recognize our personal roots and the values that our ancestors passed down to us. We reflect on the efforts they made to bring us to where we are today, and the legacy they have left behind.
By recognizing our place in the chain of Jewish history, we are also reminded of our special role in this world. We are tasked with continuing the legacy of our loved ones and ensuring that their efforts were not in vain. As we celebrate Pesach, a holiday of remembrance, the Yizkor memorial service takes on even greater significance. It serves as a poignant reminder that we are the next link in this long, illustrious chain, and that we bear the weight of responsibility that comes with it. May their memory be a source of blessing and inspiration for us all.
זִכְר֤וּ לְעֹולָם֙ בְּרִיתֹ֔ו דָּבָ֥ר צִוָּ֖ה לְאֶ֥לֶף דֹּֽור
Be ever mindful of His covenant, the promise He gave for a thousand generations, [I Chronicles 16:15]
