Soul Services: Saying Kaddish There is an abundance of mystical significance to
Kaddish prayer, which this article will touch upon; but first, some basics...
The most immediately noteworthy thing about Kaddish is that even though it is chanted by mourners, it is not a prayer for
dead. Exactly
opposite. As you can glean from just a superficial reading, it consists solely of lofty praises for
Creator and heartfelt imploring for
perfection of Creation.
There are four variations of Kaddish: 'Whole,' 'Half,' 'Rabbis',' and 'Orphans'.' The first two are said only by
prayer leader,
latter two by
mourners in unison, even though anyone who participates in
study of
Oral Torah is entitled to say
Rabbi's Kaddish.
The obligation of reciting Kaddish is part of
mourning observances for a parent, sibling, offspring or spouse for one month, starting immediately upon burial. For parents,
mourning continues through
rest of
year because of
obligation of 'honor' in addition to
mourning. When possible, it is preferable for a son of
deceased to be
Kaddish-sayer, rather than any other relative.
" ... Rabbi Akiva's mystical encounter with an lifelong sinner who had died..." So if Kaddish makes no mention of
dead, and if it is so special, why do mourners say it? For one thing, it is an honor for
soul of
deceased that its 'representative' is saying
Kaddish. Primarily, it is a great merit and help for
soul during its year of judgment after death. This is especially true when it is said by
son(s) of
deceased, and especially when those sons lead observant Jewish lives.
One way we know of
extraordinary redemptive power of Kaddish is from a dramatic story that begins with Rabbi Akiva's mystical encounter with an lifelong sinner who had died and was suffering grievous, unrelenting punishment. The sinner informed
rabbi that only if his sole surviving child would recite
Borchu and Kaddish could he be redeemed. With great effort, Rabbi Akiva located
lad and taught him these prayers. When
youngster finally recited Kaddish in
synagogue, he earned his father's release. [1]
Saying Kaddish can also be very helpful for
mourners themselves. Just thinking about
ideas expressed as you say them (or before, or after) helps bring acceptance of
tragic loss, even when it is seemingly unreasonable and still painful. It is important to remember that G-d has a master plan.
Having to chant Kaddish in public (a minyan is required) and, often, simultaneously with others, also helps to move
mourner beyond personal woes and to start thinking more communally. Kaddish-saying stops at eleven months, because "the judgment of
righteous concludes after 11 months,
wicked after 12," so to continue into
twelfth month would be to cast aspersion on
departed.
" The four letters of
word Mishna(h) can be re-arranged to spell Neshama(h), meaning 'soul'..." In some communities,
mourner teaches out loud a bit of Mishna and adds another Rabbis' Kaddish at
end of each of
three daily services. The recommended texts, included in many versions of
siddur, are very special, each citing various cases where
conclusion is 'Pure.'[2]
Mishna is
preferred vehicle of study in this situation.