The Jewish mourning tradition of Yahrzeit marks the yearly anniversary of a death. Yahrzeit is observed according to the Hebrew calendar and begins in the evening before the anniversary and lasts until the following sundown. Each year, the family must acknowledge the anniversary of the death. This is called Yahrzeit and is commemorated by the lighting of a candle. The candle burns for twenty-four hours, and the Kaddish prayer is recited.
Remembering that Jewish funeral practices are guided by the family's membership in one of the three Jewish movements–Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform, we can easily understand that there would be variations in how Yahrzeit is observed.
With that said, traditionally, the observance of Yahrzeit takes place in different locations: the home, the synagogue, and the cemetery; and is observed by three distinct activities: the lighting of candles, the recitation of prayer, and a generous charitable action.
The first Yahrzeit observance involved the recitation of the Mourner's Kaddish prayer at the synagogue with a minyan, the traditional quorum of ten Jewish adult men required for certain religious obligations. However, non-Orthodox streams of Judaism allow adult females to participate in the minyan. This is done at morning, afternoon, and evening services. In addition, if there is a memorial Yahrzeit plaque for the deceased at the synagogue, its light will be ceremonially lit in recognition of this anniversary.
The second observance occurs at home, where the mourners light a candle or memorial lamp to commemorate their death. The other location for Yahrzeit observances is the deceased's grave, where visitors recite proscribed prayers.
The third Yahrzeit observance involves charitable giving, or Tzedakah, which has long been a part of Judaic tradition. So much so that Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson wrote, "Tzedakah is not about giving; Tzedakah is about being." The practice of Tzedakah, as it relates to Yahrzeit, involves making a charitable donation in memory of the deceased.