No, Jim, as far as I know, the Yahrzeit is commemorated every year in most Jewish traditions. In fact, a common tradition is that the end of the period of mourning (that is, the time during which one says the Kaddish prayer every day) comes 11 months after the death. That, as I understand it, is the practice that signifies that mourning should have an end, and not "take up" an entire year. But as Nerd says, there are many traditions, which may differ widely from congregation to congregation or family to family. For example, Rabbi Sol's statement that those who do not have a loss to mourn "must leave the synagogue" during the Yizkor service is not the practice in many congregations, especially, as I understand it, in the Reform tradition. Often, especially on Yom Kippur, the Yizkor service in those congregations is done in commemoration of the murders of millions of Jews and non-Jews in the Shoah, or Holocaust, and all are welcome to stay and remember.

In response to Amos' original post, I think the point of the Yahrzeit and Yizkor observances is that there is a difference between mourning and remembering. Yahrzeit, for me, is not a time to "re-mourn" my dad, but to remember him consciously, for a whole day, in an active, loving way. We light a 24-hour candle each year to help with that intent.

Susan, I, like many others here, seem to find myself more inclined to continue the discussion of remembrance and mourning than in contributing to the thread in the way you had originated it. No disrespect intended. I'm sure others, like Michelle, will take the opportunity to add their names to the list. Then later maybe you can edit out the commentary.

Aloha,
Mark