We’ve been busy making news . . . here’s just some of the articles referencing Temple Beth Shalom or Rabbi Stephanie Breitsman
The Brigantine Times Newspaper 10/17/2025
TEMPLE NEWS
This week, Temple Beth Shalom honors their community members who have passed away with a short service called Yizkor.
In Jewish tradition, remembering the deceased is a deeply meaningful act, woven into the fabric of both personal and communal life. Two important practices—Yahrzeit and Yizkor—help individuals honor the memory of their loved ones.
Yahrzeit (Yiddish for “anniversary of a death”) is observed each year on the Hebrew calendar date of a person’s passing. Family members light a special memorial candle that burns for 24 hours and may attend synagogue to recite Temple Beth Shalom members celebrating Simchat Torah, which is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle Temple Beth Shalom members, led by Rabbi Steph Breitsman, celebrate Simchat Torah. Temple News the Kaddish, a mourner’s prayer affirming faith in G-d. It is a time for reflection, charity, and quiet remembrance.
Yizkor (Hebrew for “may [G-d] remember”) is a communal memorial prayer recited four times a year—on Yom Kippur, the last days of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. These moments occur during major Jewish festivals when families gather, making them poignant times to remember those who are no longer with us. The Yizkor service includes prayers for the souls of the departed, often accompanied by a pledge to give charity in their honor.
While Yahrzeit is personal and annual, Yizkor is communal and seasonal—both serve as powerful reminders of the enduring connection between the living and the deceased. Through these traditions, Judaism ensures that memory becomes a source of blessing, rooted in ritual, reflection, and continuity.