The Kaddish prayer
Kaddish is an Aramaic prayer recited by close relatives (child, parent, spouse, sibling), after a person's death. The primary responsibility for saying Kaddish is the child/ren's. If, however, other relatives want to say Kaddish in addition to children who are doing so, they may. If the deceased left no close relative, a distant relative or friend can say kaddish for him, and at times a yeshiva student is hired to do so. The mourner recites Kaddish at the funeral and burial, and then at regular prayer services for a period of eleven months after a parent's death, or thirty days after the death of other relatives. Since Kaddish is considered a prayer of special sanctity, it is recited only in the presence of a minyan (at least ten Jewish men over the age of thirteen).
Kaddish has attained such significance in Jewish communities that many people, who do not generally attend synagogue services, do so for the month or year after a relative’s death in order to recite Kaddish.
Recitation of Kaddish by women
In the past, only men customarily recited Kaddish for departed relatives. Over time, however, women's interest in reciting Kaddish grew, particularly in families in which there were no males to assume the role. Today, there are circles in which women also recite Kaddish from their seat in the synagogue. A quorum of ten men is required for the recitation of Kaddish by a woman, just as it is required for its recitation by a man.
The recitation of kaddish by a woman at the funeral is a subject of halachic controversy. Chevra kadishas, are, therefore, not in favor, of such a practice. A woman, who wishes to recite kaddish for a deceased relative, may be allowed to do so also at the funeral, especially if another male (one of the mourners or members of the chevra kadisha) who is present there recites kaddish along with her.
References to relevant sources can be found on the ITIM website.
The manner of reciting Kaddish
After each paragraph of Kaddish, which the mourner recites, the congregation answers "Amen". In most congregations, Kaddish is recited by all mourners in unison; if necessary, one mourner will slow down or wait for his fellow mourners to catch up at the end of each paragraph. Because of the importance of Kaddish, many Jewish communities (especially Ashkenazic ones) stand while hearing it. In other communities, however, only the mourners stand. Kaddish is generally recited in its traditional chant, which you can hear and practice on the ITIM website. The traditional tune is not, however, fundamental to the recitation of kaddish, and kaddish may certainly be said without any tune.
Kaddish and its translation
Kaddish is a prayer praising and glorifying God, declaring His kingship over the world and requesting that He grant peace and life. The prayer does not directly relate to the departed soul but rather declares the mourner's recognition of God's sovereignty despite the hardship that God has made him face. The Kaddish we recite today is an evolution of a Talmudic custom that further evolved in the Middle Ages, following the Crusades.
There are four types of Kaddish:
· Kaddish Yatom (Mourner's Kaddish) - This Kaddish is recited by the mourners at the funeral and burial and then for eleven months (for one's parent) or for thirty days (for other relatives). Kaddish is recited several times in each prayer service on weekdays, Shabbat, and festivals. It is then recited every year on the yahrzeit (date of death) for the rest of one's life.
· Kaddish d'Etchadita - The mourners recite this Kaddish written in the beginning of the Middle Ages, at the time of burial near the deceased's grave. In addition to praising God, this Kaddish also mentions the resurrection of the dead and life in the world to come - which is why it is said specifically at the time of burial.
· Kaddish d'Rabbanan (Rabbis' Kaddish) - The mourner recites this Kaddish wherever selections from Talmud were inserted in our prayers and it includes additions relating to our Sages.
· Kaddish Shalem and Chatzi Kaddish - This Kaddish has no connection to death and mourning - it is recited by the chazan and not by a mourner, to separate between different sections of the prayer service.
For the Mourner's Kaddish click here.
To hear an audio presentation of the Kadish prayer click here.
