I realize that not everyone that reads my blog may know what the Yizkor service is or consists of.
Yizkor are a series of additional prayers in remembrance of loved ones that are said four times a year during significant holidays that are celebrated. Our Synagouge has produced a supplementary booklet with the prayers, and some poetry and words of comfort. There was also an opportunity for fundraising as well, you could pay to have a remembrance message put into the book for the coming year.
The prayers are for the loss of a parent, husband, wife, child or other relative. I remember when I was much younger at our old shule Adath Shalom that when Yizcor was about to be said, all the children would leave the sanctuary since we (thankfully) had not experience the losses that the ‘grown ups’ were saying prayers for.
It was a time to go downstairs to the childcare area, visit with friends there or outside, and socialize. It was a nice break from the prayers and reading, and standing up and down. I will always remember those times. It is funny, because I still see some of those same ‘kids’ today, either at shule, or out socially or on facebook. Now those kids have kids, and we are adults.
Being an adult also means that it comes along with the fact that now some of those prayers are relevant to our lives. I have lost grandparents, and even friends. So, the prayer for relatives and ‘others’ now would apply to me. For many years I have stayed in for the service, and read the prayers that were meant for me.
The book this year included a new prayer. A beautiful new prayer that I had not seen before. It is a prayer for those living with parents. I was sitting beside my mother and she turned the page she pointed it out to me as well. It is a really beautiful prayer and I would like to share it with you now.
Heavenly Father, at this sacred moment when we remember those who have died, I turn to you, O G-d, with profound gratitude that my parents are still with me today. Bless them, I pray, with physical health and spiritual fulfillment and grant them the strength to be with me for many years ahead, the privilege to enjoy the success of their children and blessings of family and home. Grant me the resources to provide for them if they are ever in need and give me the ability to fulfill every aspect of the commandment of filial responsibility. May it be Your will that I come to fully appreciate my duties as a caring child and give me the wherewithal to fulfill those duties with love, with joy, and in happiness. May I remain a source of pride and joy to my parents and my family. Bless all the members of my family with good health, long life, with light and with love. In reverence I turn to You, hopeful to serve You wholeheartedly.
I love you Mom and Dad.
Amen
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