What is Kaddish? Definition and meaning of this Jewish Mourning Prayer
Kaddish, also known as the Jewish prayer of mourning, addresses the the wonder of G-d’s greatness, not the tragedy of death. The Kaddish definition, at its core, is a prayer praising and exalting G-d’s name. This Jewish mourning prayer, written in Aramaic, the common language in Talmudic times, takes several forms in liturgy.
Kaddish takes several forms, each serving a distinct purpose within the Jewish prayer service. The most widely known, the Mourner’s Kaddish, is recited communally with a minyan during the mourning period and on memorial observances. For those unable to attend daily services, arranging a proxy to recite Kaddish is a deeply meaningful and accepted Jewish practice.
If there is no one to say Kaddish for your loved one, or if attending daily minyan is not possible, Colel Chabad ensures this sacred mitzvah is fulfilled on their behalf. As one of Israel’s oldest charitable organizations, Colel Chabad has arranged Kaddish for thousands of families — with every request fulfilled by a Torah-observant proxy with daily minyan attendance.
The origins of the Kaddish Prayer
The Kaddish prayer was originally used as a closing hymn to recite at the end of studying passages of Aggadah, or Talmudic stories. As one of the most common Jewish prayers, a shortened version of the Kaddish similarly punctuates sections of communal prayer services. Notably, reciting Kaddish requires the presence of a minyan (quorum of ten congregants).
Kaddish Yatom – The Mourner’s Kaddish Prayer
Saying the Mourner’s Kaddish, the Jewish mourning prayer or Kaddish Yatom, specifically fulfills a custom of Jewish mourning in light of a family death. This kaddish prayer is said as part of communal prayer services, but only by the mourner himself, while others respond “Amein” at the designated points.
When a community organizes a minyan in the home of a mourner, it creates the ability to recite Kaddish without leaving the house. Someone practicing Jewish bereavement customs in the first seven days after burial is commonly referred to as “sitting shiva.” Among Judaism belief practices, one of the most well-known mourning customs is sitting on low stools instead of full-height chairs — a physical expression of the grief observed during shiva. Jews sit shiva as a way of focusing their intense feelings into the time right after their loss, so that when it’s time to return to normal routines, or “get up” from shiva, the mourner will have had the proper chance to grieve.
When a loved one passes, ensuring Kaddish is said becomes one of the most pressing concerns for a Jewish family. For many mourners who cannot attend daily minyan, it’s a mitzvah that feels out of reach — but it doesn’t have to be.
Can someone say Kaddish on my behalf? Yes. If you are unable to say Kaddish yourself, you can arrange for a proxy through Colel Chabad with a simple donation. Your loved one’s soul will be honored at every daily prayer service throughout the full mourning period.
How to Request Kaddish in Three Simple Steps:
- Submit your loved one’s name
- Make a donation
- A Torah-observant proxy is assigned to say Kaddish on your behalf — every day, without exception
Where does the Kaddish prayer come from?
The opening verse of the Kaddish prayer is taken from the Book of Ezekiel the Prophet, depicting his vision of G-d becoming great in the eyes of all the nations:
“Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself, and I will make Myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am the L-rd.” – Ezekiel 38:23
The verse repeated by the congregation in the middle of the prayer comes from the Book of Daniel:
“Daniel spoke and said: Blessed be the name of God from everlasting even unto everlasting; for wisdom and might are His.” – Daniel 2:20
The ending supplication for peace (“Oseh Shalom…”), which is in Hebrew, echoes the verse in the Book of Job:
“Dominion and fear are with Him; He makes peace in His high places.” – Job 25:2
Kaddish Definition: The different forms of kaddish and their meanings
The various versions of Kaddish appear at different points throughout the prayer service, and sometimes on certain occasions.
- Chatzi Kaddish (“Half Kaddish”) and Kaddish Shalem (“Complete Kaddish”) – These versions punctuate the prayer services in several places.
- Kaddish d’Rabbanan (“Kaddish of the Rabbis”) – Recited after any part of the prayer service containing excerpts from the Mishnah or Talmud.
- Kaddish Yatom (lit. “Orphan’s Kaddish”), commonly known as Mourner’s Kaddish – Recited by avelim, or mourners, at the end of a prayer service.
- Kaddish Achar Hakevurah (“Kaddish after a Burial”) – The version of the Kaddish prayer recited at a Jewish funeral. Also sometimes recited at a siyum, the closing ceremony for completing a study cycle of a long Torah-related work. In that context it is called Kaddish Achar Hashlamat Masechet (“Kaddish After Completing a Tractate”), and also referred to as Kaddish haGadol (“The Great Kaddish”) because it is the longest version.
Not sure which form of Kaddish applies to your situation? Colel Chabad can guide you through the process and ensure the right Kaddish is recited for your loved one.
The Meaning of Kaddish: Why Jews Say This Jewish Mourning Prayer
The various versions of Kaddish serve different functions. The meaning of this Jewish prayer for mourners, however, carries a special purpose. The Kaddish prayer serves as a way to help usher a departed person’s soul on its journey through the first year of the afterlife. The Jewish faith views the afterlife as a zone in which a soul comes to fully understand the purpose of all outcomes, and the eternal “truth” of all reality.
Jewish Belief in Heaven and Hell
Judaism teaches that we all go to “Heaven,” or Shamayim as it’s called in Hebrew, after death. But we also believe in “Hell,” which we call Gehinnom. Unlike other belief systems, this isn’t a simple binary of good people going to Heaven and bad people going to Hell.
The nature of these two metaphysical destinations serves to cleanse and purify a soul in between lifetimes. Shamayim is a state of sheer bliss and pure connectedness to G-d — void of physical pain or emotional suffering. This is where all souls eventually go.
Its polar opposite, Gehinnom, is a state in which we experience the extent of pain deemed appropriate for us individually, based on the quality of our actions in life. In Gehinnom, we’re given the opportunity to review our lives from start to finish and reflect on our past choices. When we remember and “see” the less G-dly decisions we may have made, we experience the “burn” commonly associated with Hell — an emotional, shameful burn of our own making.
The soul finds this spiritual cleansing particularly hard, which is why the Jewish mourning prayer of Kaddish exists — to comfort the soul of the departed during this time.
When Do We Say Kaddish, and for How Long?
While the prospect of Gehinnom may seem daunting, it’s comforting to know that any person’s stay there has a limit. No soul remains for more than one Hebrew calendar year. However, as a display of respect, we assume our loved ones will not be meted out the full 12-month term. That’s why the custom is to recite the Mourner’s Kaddish for only 11 months after death — providing that spiritual assistance without assuming the worst about them.
Arrange Kaddish for the Mourning Period or Yahrzeit
Who Says Kaddish, and for Whom?
The generally accepted practice is for the children of the deceased to recite Kaddish for their parents for the first 11 months. A designated proxy who plans to recite the Kaddish prayer on someone else’s behalf should be someone who has lost a parent of their own.
How to Say the Kaddish Prayer: Hebrew Text and English Translation
Kaddish is traditionally recited in Aramaic, written using the Hebrew alphabet. For those seeking the mourner’s Kaddish Hebrew text, the authentic version is provided below, including the congregation’s responses. Those who want to focus more deeply on the meaning of Kaddish while saying it may also follow along with the Kaddish prayer English translation. Below is the complete text in both Hebrew and the Kaddish prayer in English.
(The Hebrew/Aramaic text and English translation remain unchanged)
Physical Aspects of Reciting the Hebrew Kaddish
Generally, we recite Kaddish standing. At the last sentence, it’s customary for the reader to make the following physical movements while reciting the Hebrew Kaddish:
- Oseh shalom bimromav (“The Maker of Peace Above”): Take three small steps backward.
- Hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu (“He makes peace for us”): Bow to the left.
- Vi’al kol Yisrael (“and for all of the people of Israel”): Bow to the right.
- Ve’imru Amein (“And we say Amein”): Bow forward, as if taking leave of the presence of a king.
Honor your loved one’s soul with a dedicated kaddish service
Given the requirement of a minyan in order to say the Kaddish prayer, fulfilling this Jewish mourning custom can be challenging for many. You may ask a friend or neighbor who attends daily services to say Kaddish for your loved one, or arrange for a proxy.
Colel Chabad offers kaddish services where a simple donation is all it takes to assign a proxy to recite Kaddish on your behalf.
Your loved one deserves to have Kaddish said. We make sure it is.
English 
עִבְרִית 
Русский 
Español 
Français