Yizkor candles

Posted: Thu, Sep 23 2010, 2:41 pm Post subject: yizkor candles

I know this sounds weird, but its not the first time that I felt this. I made a mistake and thought that there is yizkor during sukkot, only this morning did I realize its during shemini atzeret. I lit a 48 yizkor candle for my father and today I felt totally zapped and had this gnawing feeling that I should not light these candles. I was trying very hard to get into the simcha of this chag but feel that all my joy and energy has been taken from me and have felt this a few other times.
is there an inyan not to light candles lezecher loved ones?
does this sound really crazy?

Posted: Thu, Sep 23 2010, 2:57 pm Post subject: re: yizkor candles

The minhag is to light a yahrtzeit candle every chag, regardless if there is yizkor or not.
It is not only to remember loved ones it is so we can use fire on chag, but also as a minhag.
Even those of us who do not say yizkor light a yahrtzeit candle erev YT.
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גשם, גשם בוא!

Posted: Thu, Sep 23 2010, 4:23 pm Post subject: re: yizkor candles

I don't see the problem with having lit a Yizkor candle when you didn;t have to. You may feel drained because that's just how lighting a Yizkor candle makes people feel, not because you did any mysterious damage.

I light only on the Yizkor days (and at times because of the idea of using prexisting flame for havdala - whenever my dh reminds me, but I get confused about when exactly we do this).

Posted: Fri, Sep 24 2010, 12:40 am Post subject:

I only put up a yizkor candle when there's yizkor, or when there's actually a 2 day chag. For "only" 24 hours I don't do it; I have no need for the flame.
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Emmanuel Tzvi: 26 Shevat 5766
Shai Michael: 8 Cheshvan 5768
Yitzchak Meir: 19 Iyar 5770
Dvir Aharon: 10 Tammuz 5772

Diamond Member Joined: Jan 01 2008 Posts: 4023

You can light a candle for the neshomo any day of the year. There are people, esp. chassidim, who light for their Rebbe zt"l every day of the year for years and years. You're not oiver on baal toisif (overdoing) with that. Better more than less. Forgetting to light a candle for a loved one is a horrible feeling. The neshomo of your dear parent o�h would surely appreciate your good intentions for the 2 extra days. Consider it as a bonus for the neshomo.