A minyan on the yartzheit
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A minyan on the yartzheit
Every year, on the anniversary of a person’s death (yartzheit), it is customary to go to the grave with a minyan of ten men and read Tehillim (Psalms), and say Kaddish and learn mishnayos.
The soul eagerly awaits for people to come to the grave on the yartzheit, and therefore if this is impossible, Torah scholars from the Agudas Achim Anshei America Yerushalayim kolel will go with a minyan to the grave as your emissaries.
It is customary to visit the grave on the yartzheit and read chapters 16 and 91 of Psalms, and say the verses in chapter 119 that correspond to the letters of the deceased’s name and the letters “neshamah” (soul), and Kaddish, and some also add mishnayos.
After leaving the cemetery, it is customary to distribute refreshments so that people will make the blessings of mezonos (for cake/ cookies), ha’etz (for fruit), ha’adamah (for vegetables), and shehakol (foods not originating from produce that grows in the earth) – for the elevation of the deceased’s soul. The yartzheit customs should be well-observed, since on that day the soul rises to the next level.
According to Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu in Tzror Hachayim, “The soul waits for people to come to the grave on the anniversary of his death. Therefore a person should make an effort to do so, even if it means a long journey and even if a person will learn less Torah.”
If you cannot visit the grave personally, for a donation of 450$, Agudas Achim Anshei America Yerushalayim will send Torah scholars to visit the grave of your loved one on the yartzheit and say chapters of Psalms and Kaddish, with refreshments and blessings for the elevation of his soul.
Complete the details on the attached form, and we will contact you in the near future: