Shavuos Yizkor Book

Dear Friends,

During the holiday of Shavuos, we gather in Shul to recite the Yizkor prayers. Though this year some will not come out to Shul as usual. We can still take a moment while at home - to reflect, remember, and connect with our loved ones. And we ask G‑d, too, to remember the souls of family and friends who have passed away.

But we cannot suffice with memory alone, because memory, by definition, relegates the remembered entity to the past. And we must endeavor to keep our loved ones’ legacies alive and present. They must be our inspiration, ever-present in our day-to-day life. As such, we continue to live in the company of their spirits, and they, in the World of Truth, live with us.

We remember. We are inspired. And we pledge to do good in the merit of their souls. For this reason, the Yizkor service includes a pledge to tzedakah, charity, on behalf of the deceased’s souls.

With this in mind, we will be creating a Yizkor booklet for our Shavuos Yizkor service. We ask you to include the names  of your loved ones. It is customary to fulfill the mitzvah of remembering your loved ones and giving tzedakah in their merit. Your charity will go toward sustaining and growing the local Jewish community of Islip Township.

Rabbi Stillerman will mention the names in the Yizkor booklet, as a part of the Keil Malei prayer recited on Shavuos.

You now have the opportunity to fulfill the Mitzva of remembering your departed loved ones and giving Tzedakah in their merit.