KADDISH Q & A
What is Kaddish?
Kaddish is commonly referred to as the "Mourner's Prayer" as it is recited for the deceased.
See the complete text and translation of the Kaddish Prayer below on this page.

Where did the practice of saying Kaddish come from?
Rabbi Akiva, one of the great sages of the Mishna and Talmud, instituted Kaddish circa 200 C.E.

Do most Jews say Kaddish, or is it only minor detail in our faith?
Kaddish is a strongly held tradition that is widely practiced in all circles of the Jewish community.

For whom does Kaddish need to be said?
Kaddish is said for any member of the Jewish People who has passed on.

Who should be saying the Kaddish?
Preferably, the deceased's son should recite Kaddish. If the person had no sons or if the son is unable to, then Kaddish can be said by a relative, friend or student. One may also hire someone to recite the Kaddish, a practice dating back over 500 years.

When is the Kaddish said?
Kaddish is said on the day of the Yahrtzeit (anniversary of the Jewish Calendar date of passing. Additionally, Kaddish is recited every day for the first eleven months after the persons passing. Generally, the Mourner's Kaddish is recited once at each of the three daily prayers. Traditionally, also, the mourner should lead the daily services. He will then be the one to recite the kaddishim which are part of the regular prayers. Both these and the additional mourner's Kaddish are "credited " to the deceased. By leading services, the total Kaddishim said would be 16, as per the recommendation of the Kabbalah.

What are the requirements for saying Kaddish?
Kaddish needs to be said in the presence of a Minyan, a quorum of ten, and only after the recitation of Torah verses said in prayer or in study, either scripture or Talmud.

Why do we say a Mishna along with the Kaddish prayer?
In Hebrew, the soul is called "Neshama". Neshama is spelled with the same letters as the word Mishna. Therefore, when fulfilling the requirement to recite verses of Torah before the Kaddish, Mishna is preferable.

If Kaddish was never said for an individual, even years after passing, can Kaddish still be said for them?
Yes, no matter if a Jew had a traditional burial or not, the Kaddish can and should be said on the their Yahrtzeit, annually.

THE JEWISH SPIRIT
Aside from my memories, where is my deceased loved one right now?
The Jewish soul is eternal. The world we know is only one of many, and is known as the Physical World. After the physical body and the spiritual soul separate, the soul continues living in the spiritual worlds. The merit that is gained through Mitzvot and good deeds in the physical life determine the "spiritual level" on which the soul will live on. Once separated from the body (by death) the soul continuously climbs to higher levels, growing constantly closer to G-d.

What happens to them when I say Kaddish for them?
Kaddish being recited on a soul's behalf is what allows it to climb to the next level or "world".

What else can we do to help our departed?
All good deeds done in their memory will be a merit to them. Traditionally, the most common tributes are the giving of charity and the study of Torah, specifically Mishna. Incidentally, the word Mishna has the same Hebrew letters as the word, "Neshama," which is the Hebrew word for "soul."

KADDISH FOR OTHERS
How can someone say Kaddish for another they've never even met?
The Torah tells us that all Jews are responsible for one another - in all respects. In fact, there is a tradition of reciting the Kaddish for "Meisei Olam", the collective of all Jews who have passed on who may not have someone saying Kaddish on their behalf.

When did we start hiring others to say Kaddish?
The practice of hiring someone to say Kaddish dates back at least to the 16th century. It is especially helpful when the deceased had no sons able to say Kaddish according to tradition.

English Transliteration
Yisgadal ve-yiskadash sh’mey rabo b’olmo dee-vro chiroosey ve-yamlich malchusey, bechayeychon uv’yomeychon uv’chayey d’chol bais yisroel, baagolo uvizman koriv, ve’imroo omain.

Yehey sh’mey rabo m’vorach la’olam ulomey almayoh.

Yisborach ve’yishtabach v’yispoar ve’yisromam ve’yisnasey ve’yishadar ve’yisalleh ve’yishallol sh’mey dekudsho berich hoo le’eylo minkol birchoso veshiroso, tushbchoso venechemoso, da’ameeron b’olmo, ve’imroo omain.

Yehey shlomo rabo min shemay vechayim oleynoo v’al kol yisroel, ve’imroo omain.

Oseh shalom bimromov, hoo ya’aseh shalom oleynoo v’al kol yisroel, ve’imroo omain.

English Translation
Magnified and sanctified be the great name of G-d, in the world created according to the Divine will. May G-d's sovereignty soon be established, in our lifetime and that of the entire House of Israel. And let us say: Amen.

Congregation and mourners:
May G-d's great name be praised to all eternity.

Hallowed and honored, extolled and exalted, adored and acclaimed be the name of the blessed Holy One, whose glory is above all the praises, hymns, and songs of adoration which human beings can utter. And let us say: Amen.

May G-d grant abundant peace and life to us and to all Israel. And let us say: Amen.

May G-d, who ordains harmony in the universe, grant peace to us and to all Israel. And let us say: Amen.

Explanation of Kaddish (Russian)
"КАДИШ ЯТОМ"
"Кадиш ятом" произносят только в "миньяне". "Кадиш ятом" ежедневно го ворит тот, кто находится в трауре по отцу или по матери, в течение П ме сяцев после их смерти, а также каждый год в день их кончины. Если у покойно го нет детей, которые говорили бы "Кадиш", это делает кто-нибудь из близ ких родственников; если таких родственников нет, поручают читать "Ка диш" любому человеку, у которого нет отца или матери. "Кадиш ятом" чита ют четыре раза в день: в "Шахарит" после псалма на соответствующий день недели (в рош-ходеил и в период от рош-ходеш месяца элуль до Гошана-Раба -после следующего за ним дополнительного псалма) и после "Алейну"; в "Минху" после "Алейну" и в "Маарив" после "Алейну".

Russian Transliteration
ЙИСГАДАЛ ВЭЙИСКАДАШ ШМЭЙ РАБО: БЭОЛМО ДИ ВРО ХИРУСЭЙ ВЭЯМЛЙХ МАЛХУСЭЙ ВЭЯЦМАХ ПУРКОНЭЙ ВИКОРЭВ МЭШИХЭЙ.
БЭХАЙЕЙХЭЙН УВЭЙЕЙМЭЙХЭЙН УВЭХАЙЕЙ ДЭХОЛ БЭЙС ЙИСРОЭЙЛ БААГОЛО УВИЗМАН КОРИВ ВЭИМРУ ОМЭЙН. ЙЕГЭЙ ШМЭЙ РАБО МЭВОРАХ ЛЭОЛАМ УЛЭОЛМЭЙ ОЛМАЙО: ЙИСБОРЭЙХ ВЭЙИШТАБАХ ВЭЙИСПОЭЙР ВЭЙИСРЭЙМОМ ВЭЙИСНАСЭЙ ВЭЙИСГАДОР ВЭЙИСАЛЭ ВЭЙИСГАЛOЛ ШМЭЙ ДЭКУДШО БРИХ ГУ: ЛЭЭЙЛО МИН КОЛ БИРХОСО ВЭШИРОСО ТУШБЭХОСО ВЭНЭХЭМОСО ДААМИРОН БЭОЛМО ВЭИМРУ ОМЭЙН:
ЙЕГЭЙ ШЛОМО РАБО МИН ШМАЙО ВЭХАЙЙМ ТЭЙВЙМ ОЛЭЙНУ ВЭАЛ КОЛ ЙИСРОЭЙЛ ВЭИМРУ ОМЭЙН:
ЭЙСЭ ШОЛЭЙМ БИМРЭЙМОВ ГУ ЯАСЭ ШОЛЭЙМ ОЛЭЙНУ ВЭАЛ КОЛ ЙИСРОЭЙЛ ВЭИМРУ ОМЭЙН: