How to Find the Yahrzeit Date: A Guide for Families Abroad

The yahrzeit, the anniversary of a passing, is one of the most important days in the year for a Jewish family. On this day children say Kaddish, light a memorial candle, learn and give tzedakah in the merit of their parent, and many visit the grave. Because the yahrzeit follows the Hebrew calendar, its date on the secular calendar changes every year. Here is how to find it.

The Yahrzeit Follows the Hebrew Date

The yahrzeit is observed each year on the Hebrew date of the passing, not the secular date. A free converter such as the Hebcal yahrzeit calculator will list the secular date of the yahrzeit for years ahead once you enter the date of death.

Passing After Sunset

The Jewish day begins in the evening. If the passing occurred after nightfall, the Hebrew date is that of the following day, so be sure to tell the calculator whether the passing was before or after sunset. If it occurred in the twilight period between sunset and nightfall, ask your rav which date to keep.

Situations Where Customs Differ

In a few cases communities follow different customs, and it is best to ask your rav once and write down the answer for the family:

• Adar in a leap year: if the passing was in Adar of a regular year, customs differ as to whether the yahrzeit is kept in Adar I, Adar II, or both.
• The 30th of a month: Cheshvan and Kislev sometimes have 29 days and sometimes 30, which affects a yahrzeit that falls on the 30th.
• The first yahrzeit: when burial took place some days after the passing, some communities keep the first yahrzeit on the date of burial, while others always keep the date of the passing.

Customs of the Yahrzeit

Common practices on the yahrzeit include:

• Saying Kaddish at Maariv, Shacharit and Minchah, and leading the prayers where possible
• Lighting a candle that burns for the full twenty-four hours
• Learning Mishnayot, especially the chapters that begin with the letters of the name
• Giving tzedakah in the merit of the departed
• Visiting the grave and saying Tehillim at the grave, followed by El Malei Rachamim and Kaddish with a minyan

When the Grave Is in Jerusalem and You Are Not

For families abroad, the hardest part is often the visit to the grave. Once you know the date, you can arrange for a minyan to be there in your place. Read what happens when we visit a grave for you and how to arrange Kaddish at a grave in Jerusalem from abroad. We recommend contacting us at least 48 hours before the yahrzeit; when the yahrzeit falls on Shabbat or Yom Tov, we arrange the visit for Erev Shabbat or the next weekday.

You can also prepare a personal reading with our free Tehillim by Name tool, or see our graveside packages.

This article is a general guide. For questions about your family’s specific situation, please consult your rav.