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Kaddish (קדיש Prayer Service . The central theme of the ''Kaddish'' is the magnification and sanctification of God 's name. In the Liturgy , several variations of the Kaddish are used functionally as separators between various sections of the Service . The term "Kaddish" is often used to refer specifically to "The Mourner's Kaddish," said as part of the mourning rituals in Judaism in all prayer services as well as at funerals and memorials. When mention is made of "saying Kaddish", this unambiguously denotes the rituals of mourning. The opening words of this prayer are inspired by , a vision of God becoming great in the eyes of all the nations. The central line of the kaddish in Jewish tradition is the congregation's response "May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity", a public declaration of God's greatness and eternality. {Link without Title} HISTORY AND BACKGROUND Most of the Kaddish is written in or Aggadah . This practice developed in Babylonia where most people understood only Aramaic and sermons were given in Aramaic so Kaddish was said in the vernacular. This is why it is currently said in Aramaic. This "Rabbinical Kaddish" (Kaddish d'Rabbanan) is still said after studying midrash or aggadah or after reading them as part of the service. It differs from the regular Kaddish because of its inclusion of a prayer for rabbis, scholars and their disciples. While anyone may say this Kaddish, it has become the custom for mourners to say the Rabbinical Kaddish in addition to the Mourner's Kaddish." {Link without Title} The Jewish Virtual Library observes that "The first mention of mourners saying Kaddish at the end of the service is in a thirteenth century Halakhic writing called the '' Or Zarua ''. The Kaddish at the end of the service became designated as Kaddish Yatom or Mourner's Kaddish (literally, "Orphan's Kaddish")." {Link without Title} The Mourner's, Rabbis' and Complete Kaddish end with a supplication for peace, which is in Hebrew , and comes from the Bible . After the Shema , Amidah , and Aleinu , the Kaddish is the most important and central blessing in the Jewish prayer service. VARIATIONS The various versions of the Kaddish (sometimes spelled Qaddish) are:
Most versions of the Kaddish begin with the (complete) ''Chatzi Kaddish''. (There are some additional passages in the Kaddish after a burial.) The portions that follow that basic formula have led to their having been given the names by which we now know them. The Kaddish, as used in the Services , are chanted. The Cantillation varies depending on the version as well as on the service itself. While the Chatzi Kaddish generally has a distinctively upbeat melody, the Mourner's Kaddish is recited slowly and contemplatively. After the Shema , Amidah , and Aleinu , the Kaddish is the most important and central blessing in the Jewish prayer service. The Jewish Encyclopedia 's Kaddish article mentions an additional type of Kaddish, called "Kaddish Yachid", or "Individual's Kaddish". TEXT OF THE KADDISH The following includes the half, complete, mourners' and rabbis' kaddish. The variant lines of the burial kaddish are given below. Text of the Burial Kaddish In the burial kaddish, lines 2 - 3 are replaced by: Notes:
MOURNER'S KADDISH See Also: Bereavement in Judaism The best known form is the "Mourner's Kaddish", said at all Prayer Services , as well as at funerals and memorials. Customs for reciting the Mourner's Kaddish vary markedly among various communities. In most Ashkenazi synagogues, particularly Orthodox ones, it is customary that everyone in the synagogue stand. In Sephardi synagogues, the custom is that only the mourners themselves stand and chant, while the rest of the congregation sits, chanting only responsively. REFERENCES
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