Day of Hilula
the Rema
י״ח באייר
Krakow, Poland
In Jewish tradition, the day of a tzadik's passing — the 'Hilula' — is not a day of mourning, but a day of spiritual elevation and awakening. According to the teachings of Kabbalah, on this day the soul of the tzadik ascends to a higher realm, and their light and merits shine upon the world. Many Jews mark the day through Torah study, reciting Tehillim, lighting a memorial candle, and good deeds for the elevation of the soul — to connect with the tzadik's path and qualities.
His Life and Legacy
The Rema (Rabbi Moses Isserles) was the author of the Mapah on the Shulchan Aruch. He added the laws and customs of Ashkenaz to Maran Rabbi Joseph Karo’s Shulchan Aruch, and through this the Shulchan Aruch was accepted by all Israel—Sephardim and Ashkenazim alike.
"Established custom can override the law."