Kaddish

Kaddish (קדיש) is a collective term, used to refer to a number of different but related prayers in Judaism, although by itself, the term is often used to refer specifically to "The Mourner's Kaddish". When mention is made of "saying Kaddish", as part of the mourning rituals (sitting shiva) or the commemoration ceremonies (yahrzeit), the reference is to the Mourner's Kaddish, and is unambiguous.

Related Topics:
Judaism - Shiva - Yahrzeit

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In the liturgy, the Kaddish is used functionally as a separator between various sections of the service. The central theme of the Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of God's name. Most of the Kaddish is written in Aramaic, which at the time of the original Kaddish's composition, was the lingua franca of the Jewish people. The exception to this is that the Mourner's, Rabbis' and Complete Kaddish end with a supplication for peace, which is in Hebrew, and comes from the Bible.

Related Topics:
Liturgy - Service - God - Aramaic - Lingua franca - Hebrew - Bible

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The various versions of the Kaddish (sometimes spelled Qaddish) are:

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• Chatzi Kaddish (חצי קדיש)
• Literally "Half Kaddish"
• Kaddish Yatom (קדיש יתום)
• Literally "Orphan's Kaddish", although commonly referred to as the "Mourner's Kaddish" (קדיש אבלים)
• Kaddish Shalem (קדיש שלם)
• Literally "Complete Kaddish" or "Whole Kaddish"
• Kaddish deRabbanan (קדיש דרבנן)
• Literally "Kaddish of the Rabbis"
• Kaddish acher haKivura (קדיש אחר הקבורה)
• Literally "Kaddish after a Burial"
• Also said after a Siyum, a collection of prayers recited on the completion of a Sefer, a Jewish holy book.

Most versions of the Kaddish begin with the (complete) Chatzi Kaddish. (There are some additional passages in the Kaddish after a Burial.) The portions that follow that basic formula have led to their having been given the names by which we now know them. The Kaddish, as used in the services, are chanted. The cantillation varies depending on the version as well as on the service itself. While the Chatzi Kaddish generally has a distinctively upbeat melody, the Mourner's Kaddish is recited slowly and contemplatively.

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After the Shema, Amidah, and Aleinu, the Kaddish is the most important and central blessing in the Jewish prayer service. The Jewish Encyclopedia's Kaddish article mentions an additional type of Kaddish, called "Kaddish Yachid", or "Individual's Kaddish".

Related Topics:
Shema - Amidah - Aleinu

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Kaddish: Text of the Mourner's Kaddish ►