Is the Chabad custom to light a Yizkor candle?

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Is the Chabad custom to light a Yizkor candle?

Many are accustomed to light a Yizkor candle [i.e. Ner Neshama] for the days that Yizkor is recited.[1] However, it is not necessarily the Chabad custom to light a candle for Yizkor.[2] Indeed, the Rebbe and Rebbe Rayatz did not light Yizkor candles.[3] [Practically, while some light a Yizkor candle as family tradition, and as stated in Luach Kolel Chabad, others follow the above mentioned custom of the Rebbe and do not do so, and there is no obligation for one to adapt to the traditions of others to light it. This especially applies if one forgot to light the candle before Yom Tov, and desires to light on Yom Tov.[4]]

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[1] See Aruch Hashulchan 514:19; Betzel Hachochma 4:29; Sefer Hachaim Hanitzchiyim 12:2

[2] Toras Menachem 56:231 “In answer to the question of why we are not accustomed to light a Yizkor candle as stated in Luach Kolel Chabad, the Rebbe replied “I did not witness that the Rebbe Rayatz did so.”; Hamelech Bemisibo 1:321 [printed in Shulchan Menachem 2:250]; Heard from Rav Leibel Groner; However, in Luach Kolel Chabad it says to light it.

[3] Toras Menachem ibid; Heard from Rav Leibel Groner

[4] See Admur 514:13; Michaber 514:5

 

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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