Understanding the Prayer
Kaddish (קַדִּישׁ) is an Aramaic prayer of praise to God, recited by Jewish mourners in memory of the deceased. Despite its association with death and mourning, the prayer itself contains no mention of death — it is entirely a declaration of God's greatness and holiness.
The prayer begins with the words יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא — "May His great Name be exalted and sanctified" — a profound affirmation of faith even in the face of profound loss.
Jewish tradition holds that when a mourner recites Kaddish in the presence of a minyan (a quorum of ten Jewish adults), it brings merit to the soul of the deceased and elevates it to higher spiritual realms. This is why Kaddish is considered one of the most important acts of honor a child can perform for a parent.
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ
"May His great Name be exalted and sanctified in the world which He created according to His will."
Kaddish is traditionally recited three times daily — at Shacharit (morning prayers), Mincha (afternoon prayers), and Maariv (evening prayers) — for eleven months following the passing of a parent. The tradition of eleven months, rather than the full twelve, reflects the belief that the soul's judgment is complete within eleven months, and continuing for a full year would imply the deceased required the maximum period of judgment.
After the first year, Kaddish is recited on the Yahrzeit — the Hebrew anniversary of the death — each year thereafter. Many also recite Kaddish on Yizkor, the memorial service observed four times a year on major Jewish holidays.
Jewish law and tradition permit — and in some circumstances encourage — arranging for another Jew to recite Kaddish on behalf of a mourner who is unable to do so. This may be due to distance from a synagogue, illness, lack of knowledge of the prayer, or simply the inability to attend daily minyan.
The principle is rooted in the deep unity of the Jewish people: because all Jews share a common spiritual bond, one Jew's prayers can carry merit on behalf of another. Many leading rabbinical authorities have affirmed the validity and value of hiring a Torah scholar to recite Kaddish.
At My Kaddish, we arrange for devout Torah scholars in Jerusalem to fulfill this sacred obligation with full devotion and commitment — ensuring your loved one's memory is honored with the dignity it deserves.
Yahrzeit (יאָרצײַט) is a Yiddish word meaning "year's time." It refers to the annual Hebrew anniversary of a person's death, observed each year on the same date in the Hebrew calendar. On the Yahrzeit, it is customary to light a memorial candle, recite Kaddish, study Torah, and give charity in memory of the deceased.
Because the Hebrew calendar follows a lunar cycle and does not align with the Gregorian calendar, the Yahrzeit date shifts each year in the secular calendar. Our service includes Yahrzeit reminders to ensure you never miss this important observance.