The Kaddish is an Aramaic word, literally meaning sanctification, and it originates from an ancient formula used to conclude study or prayer gatherings in which the greatness of God and the hope for the swift coming of the Messiah were celebrated. Even today, the Kaddish, or more specifically the “half Kaddish,” since there are different forms of Kaddish, is used to divide the various moments of Jewish liturgy.(1) However, over time, the Kaddish has become synonymous with the prayer most closely associated with mourning, recited at funerals and other ceremonies in memory of the deceased. Thus, the expression “saying Kaddish” today unequivocally refers to Jewish mourning rituals, even though the “mourner’s Kaddish” never mentions death but only praises God.

The Kaddish can only be recited in the presence of a minyan, which consists of ten Jewish men who have reached the age of religious maturity (13 years old), and it must be recited by those in mourning, who “say Kaddish” to show that, despite the loss of their loved ones, they still praise God. In the Kaddish, they find expressions and reasons for consolation and comfort.

In particular, it is traditional to recite the Kaddish in the presence of the congregation daily for eleven months after the death of a parent, and for thirty days after the death of a child, spouse, or sibling. After this period, it is customary to recite it once a year on the anniversary of the death of a loved one.

The Kaddish is a prayer that has been recited with love and reverence throughout the centuries, emphasizing the Jewish people’s desire to maintain a vibrant and essential dialogue with God. Along with the Shema Israel (Hear, O Israel), the Kaddish has become one of the most important and central elements of Jewish liturgy.

According to the best Jewish traditions, which, since the fall of the Second Temple, lack a universally recognized hierarchy, there are various melodies used to recite the Kaddish depending on the different traditions and within each tradition, also depending on the version and the day of recitation. In Sephardic synagogues, the entire congregation generally sits during the Kaddish, except during the “mourner’s Kaddish,” when those reciting it stand. In Ashkenazi synagogues, the tradition varies, but usually, everyone stands.

Most of the Kaddish is written in Aramaic, which, at the time of its original composition, was the spoken language of the Jewish people. The opening words of the prayer are inspired by the book of Ezekiel (38:23), while some of the central verses are taken from the Targum, the Aramaic version of the Hebrew Bible, (Genesis 49:2 e Deuteronomy 6:4) and from the book of Daniel (2:20). [2]

Text of the Short Kaddish in Aramaic/Hebrew, Transliteration and English Translation

Nr. English translation Trasliteration Aramaic/Hebrew
1 May the great Name of God be exalted and sanctified Yitgaddal veyitqaddash shmeh rabba יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא
2 throughout the world, which he has created according to his will! Beʻalma di vra khir’uteh בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ
3 May his Kingship be established veyamlikh malkhuteh וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ
4 may His salvation be revealed and His anointed one arrive [veyatzmaḥ purqaneh viqarev (qetz) meshiḥeh] וְיַצְמַח פֻּרְקָנֵהּ וִיקָרֵב(קיץ) מְשִׁיחֵהּ
5 during your life and your existence, beḥayekhon uvyomekhon בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן
6 and during the existence of all the people of Israel, uvḥaye dekhol [bet] yisrael וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל [בֵּית] יִשְׂרָאֵל
7 soon and in the shortest time! And say, Amen. beʻagala uvizman qariv veʼimru amen בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
The next two lines are recited by the congregation and then by the leader:
8 Blessed be His great name yehe shmeh rabba mevarakh יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ
9 forever and for all eternity! leʻalam ulʻalme ʻalmaya לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא
10 Praised, glorified, exalted, Yitbarakh veyishtabbaḥ veyitpaar veyitromam יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרוֹמַם
11 elevated, magnified, celebrated, acclaimed veyitnasse veyithaddar veyitʻalleh veyithallal וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל
12 be the name of the Holy Blessed One shmeh dequdsha berikh hu. שְׁמֵהּ דְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.
13 above all blessing, leʻella (lʻella mikkol) min kol birkhata לְעֵלָּא (לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל) מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא
14 song, celebration, and comfort veshirata tushbeḥata veneḥemata וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא
15 that we pronounce in this world! And say, Amen. daamiran beʻalma veʼimru amen דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן

 

Source: Union of Italian Jewish Communities

 

 

[1] Cyrus Adler, et al. “Kaddish”, Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906, pp. 401–403

[2] Kaddish da Wikipedia, l’enciclopedia libera.