The Kaddish prayer is an affirmation that God is the sole ruler of the world, and the ultimate source of all salvation. It is not intrinsically a memorial prayer and contains no reference to death or to the deceased. However, reciting Kaddish has become the single most significant act that a son (or daughter) performs as part of Jewish traditions of remembrance.

The idea behind saying Kaddish is that every human being has the responsibility to conduct his/her life in such a way that will ever be a glory to God. Inevitably, throughout our lives we all do things that fall somewhat short of that goal, and these misdeeds detract from that glory.

Part of the power of the Kaddish lies in the fact that it is always recited in the presence of a congregation of at least ten adults (a minyan), thereby ensuring that the declarations contained in the prayer are made in public. Each time a mourner recites Kaddish, which provokes the congregation to respond with the words Yehey sh'mey raba mevorach le'olam u'le'olmey olmaya - May His illustrious name be blessed always and forever - the negative effect of any misdeed is counteracted, and the soul of the departed is elevated to ever-higher celestial realms.

The origin of the practice is not easy to find. It seems to derive from a tradition, which tells how Rabbi Akiva once met up with the soul of a dishonest tax collector. The soul was deeply depressed, since he was suffering for the sins that he'd committed while on earth, and he told Rabbi Akiva that his suffering would cease if one of his sons would recite Kaddish, so causing the congregation to respond by praising God's name.

Rabbi Akiva taught the son what to say, and we are told that the son's recitation of Kaddish did, indeed, relieve his father's soul from torment.

However obscure its origins, the Kaddish prayer is undoubtedly one of the most powerful and evocative pieces of Jewish liturgy. Reciting the mourner's Kaddish links those that are alive today with all previous generations, in a continuum of faith and hope that has helped the Jewish people to survive and flourish, despite all attempts at their annihilation.

The Kaddish prayers are available on our website.