Yizkor is for mourners. But what if we all stayed?
Growing up, Yizkor was the time during services when my mom would bustle us out of the sanctuary of our suburban Arizona synagogue, lest we tempt the evil eye by being present during this special…
Assessment
The practice of ushering non-mourners out of Yizkor treats grief as a private club, but the author's question pushes back on that boundary. Keeping everyone present could transform a service of individual loss into shared communal memory. The piece invites readers to weigh tradition against the value of collective presence. Watch how it argues for broadening access to mourning rituals.