Yahrzeit

American  

[yahr-tsahyt, yawr-] / ˈyɑr tsaɪt, ˈyɔr- /

Or Jahrzeit

noun

Judaism.

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.

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Yahrzeit British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of Yahrzeit

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

Example Sentences

As Hersh’s first Yahrzeit passed, we continued to fall through time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

On Yahrzeit, anniversary of the death of any good Jew, a candle is lit in his honor.

From Time Magazine Archive

Rowling's literature: Jewish culture has celebrated the Yahrzeit for centuries.

From Time Magazine Archive

Rowling's literature: Jewish culture has celebrated the Yahrzeit for centuries.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Fanny Herself by Ferber, Edna