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Yahrzeit Date Calculator: Convert,
Understand & Honor Your Loved One’s Death Anniversary

Calculate the Hebrew Death Anniversary Date and Keep Their Memory Alive

Finding the right day to honor a loved one who passed away can be confusing. The Hebrew calendar works differently than the secular calendar. That is why you need a yahrzeit date calculator.

A yahrzeit is the yearly anniversary of a death on the Hebrew calendar. Jews mark this day by lighting a candle, saying Kaddish, and giving charity. But the yahrzeit date moves each year on the secular calendar. A date in October one year might fall in November the next.

Our yahrzeit date calculator below solves this problem. Enter the secular date of death, including the year. The tool converts it to Hebrew. Then it shows you yahrzeit dates for years to come. No more guessing. No more missing the right day.

For generations, Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities has helped families observe yahrzeit according to Jewish tradition. We know how much it means to honor loved ones at the right time. This guide teaches you everything about yahrzeit dates. You will learn how the Hebrew calendar works. You will understand special rules for Adar and leap years. And you will discover how giving tzedakah in memory of loved ones elevates their soul.

How to Use the Yahrzeit Date Calculator

A yahrzeit (Yiddish for “year-time”) marks when someone passed away on the Hebrew calendar. Jews observe this day each year on the same Hebrew date—not the same secular date. This is why a yahrzeit date calculator is so helpful.

The yahrzeit date calculator above does the hard work. You enter the secular date of death. It finds the Hebrew date. Then it lists future yahrzeits so you always know when to observe.

Step-by-Step: How to Calculate a Yahrzeit Date

Using our yahrzeit date calculator takes just a few steps:

Step 1: Enter the secular date of passing. Use the date from the death certificate. Enter the month, day, and year in the fields above.

Step 2: Check if death was after sunset. This matters a lot. The Hebrew day starts at sunset, not midnight. If your loved one passed after sunset, the Hebrew date is the next day. Our yahrzeit date calculator has a checkbox for this. Make sure to use it if the passing took place in the evening.

Step 3: Choose how many years to show. The yahrzeit date calculator can show 5, 10, or 20 years of dates. Pick what works best for you.

Step 4: Click calculate and review. You will see the Hebrew date of death. You will also see a list of future yahrzeits. Each entry shows both the Hebrew date (like “15 Cheshvan 5786”) and the secular date (like “November 5, 2025”).

Print these dates or save them to your phone. Many families set calendar reminders a week before each yahrzeit. This gives time to buy a yahrzeit candle and make plans.

The Sunset Rule

The Hebrew day begins at sunset, not midnight. If death happened after sunset, the Hebrew date is the next day. Always check "after sunset" in the yahrzeit date calculator if this applies. Getting this right ensures you observe your loved one’s yahrtzeit on the correct date

Why Does the Yahrzeit Date Move Each Year?

People often ask why their yahrzeit falls on a different secular date each year. A yahrzeit date calculator accounts for this automatically. But it helps to understand why it happens.

How the Hebrew Calendar Works

The Hebrew calendar follows the moon. Each month starts with the new moon. Months have 29 or 30 days. A regular Hebrew year has 354 days.

The secular calendar follows the sun. It has 365 days. This creates an 11-day gap each year.

To keep holidays in the right season, the Hebrew calendar adds a leap month every several years. This happens seven times every 19 years. In leap years, there are two Adar months. A leap year has 384 days. This helps even out the lag of days in the lunar calendar.

Why You Need a Yahrzeit Date Calculator

Because of these differences, a Hebrew date falls on a different secular date each year. The yahrzeit date moves forward or backward depending on the year.

Here is an example. Say someone passed on 12 Cheshvan 5784. That was October 27, 2023. But 12 Cheshvan 5785 falls on November 13, 2024. And 12 Cheshvan 5786 will fall on yet another date in 2025.

Without a yahrzeit date calculator, you would have to figure this out yourself. The math is complex. Our tool does it instantly. Enter the date once and get years of accurate results.

Once you know the Hebrew date, save it. You will need it for:

Arranging Kaddish to be said
Telling the synagogue when to announce the yahrzeit
Planning cemetery visits
Ordering memorial plaques

Special Situations: Death Date, Burial Date, and Unknown Dates

Most yahrzeit calculations are straightforward. But some situations require extra guidance. Here is what Jewish law says about common scenarios.

Date of Death vs. Date of Burial

Sometimes death and burial happen on different days. Which date should you use?

Jewish law says to use the date of death. This is true even if the burial was days later. The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) is clear on this point.

There is one exception. If burial was delayed two or more days, some communities observe the first yahrzeit on the burial date. After that first year, they switch to the death date. This prevents ending the year of mourning too early.

Most families today use the death date for all yahrzeits. But if burial was very delayed, ask your rabbi which date to use.

When You Don't Know the Exact Time

What if you don’t know if death was before or after sunset? If you think death may have been in the evening hours or if you are unsure when it occurred, talk to a rabbi. He can help you determine which date to use.

When the Date Itself Is Unknown

Sometimes the exact date is not known. Maybe records were lost. Maybe your loved one was found after passing.

Jewish law offers guidance for these cases. If only two dates are possible, observe both days. Light a candle and say Kaddish on each one. If the range is longer (several days), observe the latest possible date. Jewish law assumes a person remained alive until determined otherwise (Teshuvot V’Hanhagot I:698). For complex cases, a rabbi can help choose the date you should observe.

Special Rules: Adar, Leap Years, and Variable Months

The yahrzeit date calculator handles complex cases automatically. But understanding these rules helps you know what to expect.

the Adar Yahrzeit Leap Year Rule

Adar is the trickiest month. In leap years, there are two Adars: Adar I and Adar II. Which one is the yahrzeit?

The Adar yahrzeit rule depends on when death occurred:

Death in Adar of a regular year:

Ashkenazi custom: Observe in Adar I during leap years
Sephardi custom: Observe in Adar II during leap years

Death in Adar I of a leap year:

Observe in Adar I in future leap years
Observe in regular Adar in non-leap years

Death in Adar II of a leap year:

Observe in Adar II in future leap years
Observe in regular Adar in non-leap years

Our yahrzeit date calculator follows Ashkenazi custom: if death occurred in regular Adar (of a non-leap year), the yahrzeit is observed in Adar I during leap years.If you follow Sephardi custom, ask your rabbi about Adar dates.

Adar Yahrzeit Reference Table

Death Occurred In	Regular Year	Leap Year (Ashkenazi)	Leap Year (Sephardi)
Adar (regular year)	Adar	Adar I	Adar II
Adar I (leap year)	Adar	Adar I	Adar I
Adar II (leap year)	Adar	Adar II	Adar II

Death on the 30th of a Variable Month

Some Jewish months have 29 days in some years and 30 in others. Cheshvan and Kislev change length. Adar also varies.

What if death was on the 30th of the Jewish month, but that month only has 29 days in a future year? The yahrzeit date calculator handles this automatically.

Two customs exist. Some observe on the 29th (the last day of that month). Others observe on the 1st of the next month (Rosh Chodesh). Many follow what happened the first year after death.

Our yahrzeit date calculator will show an “Adjusted” note when this happens. It explains which date is being used instead.

Questions About Your Yahrzeit Date?

The yahrzeit date calculator handles most cases. But if you have questions about Adar, leap years, or other complex situations, ask a rabbi. He can confirm which date is correct for your family's custom.

How to Observe the Yahrzeit

Now that the yahrzeit date calculator has given you the correct date, it is time to honor your loved one. Jews have kept these customs for generations. Learn more in our complete yahrzeit observance guide.

Lighting the Yahrzeit Candle

Light a special candle at sunset the evening before. The Hebrew day starts at sunset, so this is when the yahrzeit begins.

The candle burns for 24 hours. You can find yahrzeit candles at Jewish stores or online. The flame stands for the soul. As the verse says: “The soul of man is the lamp of God” (Proverbs 20:27).

Our yahrzeit candle lighting guide covers this topic fully, including what to do if yahrzeit falls on Shabbos and other special cases

Saying Kaddish

The Mourner’s Kaddish is said at synagogue on the yahrzeit. Try to attend all three services: evening (Maariv), morning (Shacharis), and afternoon (Mincha). If you can only go once, that is still meaningful.

Many people lead the prayers on a parent’s yahrzeit. This brings honor to the departed.

Our complete Kaddish guide has the full text and laws. It explains what Kaddish means and why we say it. You can also learn about the deeper meaning and history of Kaddish and why Kaddish is said for 11 months after passing.

Visiting the Grave

If possible, visit the cemetery on or near the yahrzeit. Many believe the soul knows when family visits.

At the grave, you can:

Say Tehillim (Psalms)
Recite Kel Maleh Rachamim
Speak to your loved one
Pray for their soul
Place a stone on the grave

If you cannot go on the exact day, try to visit within a few days. You may also want to learn about the Jewish unveiling ceremony if this is the first yahrzeit.

Learning Torah

Torah study brings merit to the soul. Mishnah is especially meaningful. The Hebrew letters of “Mishnah” are the same as “Neshamah” (soul).

Some learn chapters that start with letters of the person’s Hebrew name. Any Torah study dedicated to their memory helps their soul rise higher. Learn more about Mishnayos for mourners and how this custom elevates the departed.

The Power of a Yahrzeit Donation

One of the best ways to honor a yahrzeit is giving tzedakah. A yahrzeit donation brings great merit to your loved one’s soul.

Why Give Charity on a Yahrzeit?

The Talmud teaches that charity has great power. It can “save from death.” When we give in memory of someone who passed, we help their soul.

After death, a person cannot do mitzvos anymore. But when we give charity in their name, we become their hands. The merit goes to them.

The Yizkor memorial prayer includes a promise to give charity. This shows how connected tzedakah is to remembering the dead. Visit our Merit for the Departed articles to learn more ways to honor loved ones.

Giving in the Merit of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness

For centuries, Jews have given charity while saying: “God of Meir, answer me!” Rabbi Meir Baal Haness was a great Talmudic Sage known for performing miracles. He promised to intercede in Heaven for those who give tzedakah in his memory.

A yahrzeit donation to Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities joins this ancient tradition. Your gift helps needy families in Israel. It also brings merit to your loved one’s soul.

Many families use the yahrzeit date calculator to plan ahead. They schedule a yahrzeit donation for each year. This ensures they never miss the chance to honor their loved one with tzedakah.

Meaningful Donation Amounts

The number 18 is special in Hebrew. The letters spell “chai”—life. Many give yahrzeit donations in multiples of 18: At the grave, you can:

$18 (chai)
$36 (double chai)
$54 (triple chai)
$180

These amounts give “life” to the memory. But any amount matters. A small gift given with love is precious.

Honor your Loved One’s Memory with a Yahrzeit Donation

Your tzedakah elevates the soul of the departed and helps families in need. Give in the merit of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness.

DONATE IN THEIR MEMORY

Honor Their Yahrzeit Through Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities

For over 200 years, Jewish families have trusted Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities to direct their yahrzeit donations to those who need them most. Founded in 1799, we are one of the oldest Jewish charities in the world.

We support Torah scholars, widows, orphans, and needy families throughout Israel. Every yahrzeit donation goes directly to families in need. When you give in memory of your loved one, you help real people facing real hardship.

Rabbi Meir Baal Haness—the great Tanna (Mishnaic sage) known as the miracle worker—promised to speak to Heaven for those who give tzedakah in his name. This promise comes from a famous story in the Talmud (Avodah Zarah 18a). When Rabbi Meir rescued his sister-in-law from Roman captivity, he told her guard to say “God of Meir, answer me!” if ever in danger. The phrase miraculously saved the guard from execution, and Jews have invoked it ever since when giving charity and seeking heavenly help. For generations, Jews have kept a pushke (charity box) with Rabbi Meir’s name. They give charity and say “God of Meir, answer me!” when they need help or want to invoke his merit.

Use our yahrzeit date calculator to find the correct dates. Then make a yahrzeit donation each year. Your tzedakah brings blessing to your loved one’s soul. It also brings blessing to your family. And it continues the sacred chain of giving that Jews have kept for centuries.

"God of Meir, Answer Me!"

In the merit of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, may your loved one's neshamah (soul) rise ever higher. May you be blessed with blessing and success in all you do.

GIVE TZEDAKAH NOW

FAQ SECTION

Why does my loved one's yahrzeit fall on a different secular date each year?

The yahrzeit follows the Hebrew calendar. Because the Hebrew year follows the lunar cycle, it is about 11 days shorter than the secular year. (In leap years, the Jewish calendar is 19 days longer.) This makes the yahrzeit date move each year. Our yahrzeit date calculator figures this out for you automatically.

What if I only know the secular date of death?

The yahrzeit date calculator works as a hebrew date of death converter. Enter the Gregorian date and check off if death was after sunset. The tool gives you the Hebrew date and shows future yahrzeits.

How does the yahrzeit date calculator handle Adar in leap years?

If death was in Adar of a regular year, Ashkenazi custom observes in Adar I during leap years. Sephardi custom observes the yahrtzeit in Adar II. The calculator on this page follows Ashkenazi custom. If you follow Sephardi custom, ask your rabbi.

Should I enter the date of death or burial in the yahrzeit date calculator?

Enter the date of death. Jewish law bases yahrzeit on when the person passed, not burial. If burial was delayed several days, ask your rabbi about when to observe the first yahrzeit.

What if I don't know if death was before or after sunset?

The yahrzeit date calculator assumes daytime death. If you think it may have been after sunset, ask a rabbi. The timing affects which Hebrew date is correct.

Why should I give a yahrzeit donation?

Charity brings merit to your loved one’s soul. A yahrzeit donation to Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities invokes Rabbi Meir’s promise to speak to Heaven for those who give in his name.

Can I use the yahrzeit date calculator for any year?

Yes. The yahrzeit date calculator works for past and future dates. Enter any secular date and get the Hebrew date plus yahrzeits for up to 20 years ahead.

In the merit of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, may the soul of your loved one rise to ever higher levels in Gan Eden. May you be blessed with success in all your endeavors.