Yahrzeit

or Jahr·zeit

[ yahr-tsahyt, yawr- ]

nounJudaism.
  1. the anniversary of the death of a parent, sibling, child, or spouse, observed by lighting a memorial lamp or candle the night before and reciting the Kaddish at the evening service of the day before and at the morning and afternoon services of the day itself.

Origin of Yahrzeit

1
1850–55; <Yiddish yortsayt, equivalent to yoryear + tsayt time (see tide1); compare Middle High German jārzīt anniversary

Words Nearby Yahrzeit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Yahrzeit in a sentence

  • "I have 'Yahrzeit' for my mother," explained Jo Lewis, glancing toward the taper after greeting his visitors.

  • There would be no Yahrzeit light burning for twenty-four hours.

    Fanny Herself | Edna Ferber

British Dictionary definitions for Yahrzeit

Yahrzeit

/ (ˈjɔːtsaɪt) /


noun
  1. Judaism the anniversary of the death of a close relative, on which it is customary to kindle a light and recite the Kaddish and also, in some communities, to observe a fast

Origin of Yahrzeit

1
Yiddish, from Middle High German jārzīt anniversary; see year, tide 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012