History | Religion | Legacy
A Prayer For Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The Mourner’s Kaddish
A very private prayer for a very public person.
As important in death as she was in her life, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an inspiration to women and an advocate for gender equality and women’s rights.
She will be missed by many.
The Mourners Kaddish is a special prayer said on the death of a parent or other important family member in the Jewish faith.
It is a prayer intended to be recited publicly, but it is also very personal because you are praying to your God at a time of great loss.
For the death of a parent, Kaddish is said daily for 11 months in the presence of a quorum of 10 adults (a minyan). Usually, Kaddish is said in the synagogue, although it can be said in another public place with a minyan.
The requirement to speak it in public helps the mourner remain connected to others while they are grieving. It allows members of the community to support the mourner during their time of grief.
This prayer has been said by generation after generation to mourn the loss of loved ones. These words can sometimes be the only words available when the loss is powerful and overwhelming. When a mourner is at a loss for words to describe their emotions reciting the Kaddish may help.
Chanting these powerful words may become a ritual that soothes the mourner.
The repetitive chanting of this prayer over and over may become a comforting ritual. Sometimes the mourner will continue to say Kaddish in their prayers going forward in their lives. Participating in this obligation for a deceased loved one may bring people back into the synagogue on a more regular basis.
A recording of Kaddish is constantly played in one of the rooms in Auschwitz. These hallowed words are familiar to Jews and provide comfort and familiarity in the face of the atrocity of the Holocaust.
If someone has no one to speak this prayer for them, there are individuals who are willing to recite Kaddish on their behalf.
Sometimes a small group of relatives will divide the recitation of the Kaddish so each mourner can participate and it is not as much of a burden in their lives.
Reciting Kaddish is the ultimate sign of respect and love for the deceased. The prayer doesn’t mention the dead person; it praises God and is about peace. It is said to benefit the soul of the dead person by showing the spirituality of his or her family.
Mourner’s Kaddish
Translated by Tracey R. Rich, see References.
May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified Amen
in the world that He created as He willed.
May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days,
and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel, swiftly and soon. Now say: Amen
May His great Name be blessed forever and ever.
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled,
mighty, upraised, and lauded be the Name of the Holy One
Blessed is He beyond any blessing and song,
praise and consolation that are uttered in the world. Now say: Amen
May there be abundant peace from Heaven
and life upon us and upon all Israel. Now say: Amen
He Who makes peace in His heights, may He make peace,
upon us and upon all Israel.
Amen
References:
Online document:
Tracey R. Rich (1998–2011). Mourner’s Kaddish. n.d. Retrieved October 3, 2016, from http://www.jewfaq.org/kaddishref.htm
Tag me @treelangdon or add a message to this post if you’d like to connect. This essay was originally written for Liberal Studies 131in 2016 and edited for the purposes of this post.
