![]() ![]() Sons were referred to as “my Kaddish” or as a “Kaddishl,” and people who had no sons sometimes hired men to say the prayer after they died. The rabbi found the poor man’s long-lost son and taught him to recite the verse, “May His great name be blessed.” With those words, the father’s soul was released and flew up to heaven.įor centuries, people believed that saying Kaddish would shorten the amount of time the deceased spent in Gehenna (hell) before ascending to Gan Eden (heaven). One of the better-known tales is attributed to Rabbi Akiva, who came across a man suffering terrible torments in hell. There are many Talmudic stories about the value of having the whole community recite the key words: “May His great name be blessed.” By the sixth century, Kaddish was part of synagogue prayers, and during the 13th century, when the Crusades threatened the Jewish communities of Europe, it became inextricably linked to loss and mourning.įamiliar, accessible, and comforting, Kaddish became part of the folk religion of the Jews. Eventually the custom extended to all mourners–not only the survivors of rabbis and leaders. Over time, reciting Kaddish replaced studying as the tribute given to a scholar. ![]() During the mourning period for a rabbi or teacher, students would gather to study in his honor, and his son was given the honor of leading the prayer. After a scholar delivered a learned discourse, students and teachers would rise to praise God’s name. Kaddish originated not in the synagogue but in the house of study ( beit midrash). The Kaddish and the Lord’s Prayer are also used in much the same ways: recited at most services and at virtually all funerals, they bind their respective faith communities with universally familiar words and rhythms. Both prayers extol God’s strength and ask for the establishment of God’s sovereignty on earth. Based on verses from the Gospel of Matthew (6:9-13), it was written around the same time. ![]() The Lord’s Prayer, or Pater Noster, is the Christian analog to the Kaddish. until the fifth century C.E.–it was recited not only by priests, but by common folk as well. Written mostly in Aramaic–the spoken language of most Jews from the fifth century B.C.E. Reprinted with permission from Saying Kaddish: How to Comfort the Dying, Bury the Dead, & Mourn as a Jew ( Schocken Books).īeloved from its earliest days, parts of the Kaddish date from the first century B.C.E. Reciting the Mourner's Kaddish is one of Judaism’s greatest mitzvahs, or good deeds.My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help Donate It is one of the most widely recognized prayers of the Jewish faith and is one of its fundamental customs, reflecting on life, tradition and family. Today, some recite the Mourner’s Kaddish for the deceased of other familial relations as well. Kaddish has been said for nearly 2,000 years to honor and commemorate parents who have passed away. Print Friendly Version Plant a Tree in Israel This prayer is spoken collectively and serves as an affirmation of Jewish faith as well as a reminder that no mourner is alone in their grief. Kaddish, also known as the "Mourner's Prayer," is said in honor of the deceased.
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