A convert's biological parents are not their parents in a halachic sense. In some senses the converting beis din is "responsible" for the convert in the way of parents. In name, at least, the ger's parents are Avrohom Avinu and Sarah Imenu. When, if ever, does a convert say yizkor?
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2Possibly related: When if ever are converts still related to their relatives Is a convert obliged to honor his parents Can a convert mourn for their Jewish parents – yoel Dec 26 '12 at 20:33
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2also related: May or should a convert recite kaddish after his biological parents death – yoel Dec 26 '12 at 20:38
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3Can't I say Yizkor for whomever I want? – Double AA Dec 26 '12 at 20:48
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@DoubleAA is that the case? I was under the impression that one said Yizkor only for a deceased relative. Perhaps the question would be better formulated as "given the custom for one whose parents are still living, when should a ger begin to say yizkor?" – yoel Dec 26 '12 at 22:20
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1"given the custom for one whose parents are still living to leave during and refrain from saying yizkor..." – yoel Dec 26 '12 at 22:27
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My understanding is that that custom developed in some communities out of a fear for the evil eye by Yizkor-sayers onto those present but not saying anything. It would seem mimanafshach that after his biological parents are dead there isn't anything to stop him from staying inside during Yizkor. – Double AA Dec 26 '12 at 23:21
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re your first point: If I can say a El Malei for anyone (eg a certain Rabbi, all the martyrs of the Holocaust) why can't I pray for them with the Yizkor nussach? – Double AA Dec 26 '12 at 23:22
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@DoubleAA http://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/10568 – msh210 Dec 28 '12 at 05:30
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Dupe: http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/37704/is-a-convert-allowed-to-say-yizkor-for-their-non-jewish-parents – Shmuel May 06 '14 at 01:48
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As a convert, I've only asked the question with respect to kaddish and shiva. I've posted the answers I've received on those questions elsewhere (in sum, my rav relying on the Rema said "no kaddish or shiva" but there are other chashuva sources who disagree; I go with my Rav). Since my late Rav, Rabbi Gedaliah Anemer, zt'l, said "no" to those questions, it never occurred to me to ask about Yizkor. But I do know that with respect to my Jewish-born wife, Rabbi Anemer (and his student and successor, Rabbi Dovid Rosenbaum, shlita), said she could not say Yizkor until her parent had been dead one year. Given that I never bothered asking about Yizkor. I don't know any converts who stay around for Yizkor, and I don't either.
Bruce James
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A convert should not say Yizkor for his\her non-Jewish parents, for the simple reason that the text of Yizkor is specific to Jews (as we ask God to bind the soul of the deceased with those of their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.)
However, a convert may say a personal prayer in remembrance of his\her parents in place of the traditional Yizkor prayer.
For practical applications, please consult your rabbi.
Sources: http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/faq/11-06-17.html ; http://www.yeshiva.co/ask/?id=4999 ; http://www.yeshiva.co/ask/?id=37
Shmuel
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