Death anniversary reactions and the hassidic yahrzeit observance

Rather than indicate the existence of pathological mourning, anniversary reactions may reflect the need to deal with thoughts and feelings repressed during the bereavement process. This article looks at the use of the Hassidic Yahrzeit observance as a model for new family rituals designed to incorporate this repressed material into ongoing memories of the deceased. The observance allows for overt recognition of positive as well as negative recollections and emotions and does so with flexible practices in a fixed timeframe.