The Mourners' Kaddish
Summary of Traditional Observances Relating to the Kaddish
For
whom
Kaddish is
recited
· Kaddish
is recited
for anyone
for whom a
mourner
sits
Shiva:
a parent,
child,
sibling,
and
spouse.
One may
also elect
to say
Kaddish
for other
relatives
and even
friends.
It is
customary
not to say
Kaddish
for others
while
one's
parents
are alive.
· Adopted
children
are
encouraged
to say
Kaddish
for
adoptive
parents,
but are
not
required
to do so.
· Most
authorities
agree that
one need
not heed
the
request of
a parent
that
Kaddish
not be
said for
him.
Minyan
requirement
·
The
Kaddish
may be
recited at
a public
prayer
service
only if a minyan
(religious
quorum) is
present.
For
how long
recited
·
For
parents,
Kaddish is
recited
for eleven
months,
and for
other
relatives
for thirty
days.
· A
mourner
who does
not learn
of the
death of a
parent
until long
after the
burial is
obligated
to recite
Kaddish
only until
the end of
the
eleventh
month
after
burial.
Women
and
Kaddish
·
Although
only sons
are
obligated
to say
Kaddish
for
parents,
most
authorities
permit
women to
do so if
they so
wish.
Minors
and
Kaddish
·
Boys under
Bar Mitzva
age are
obligated
to say
Kaddish
for
parents.
most
authorities
permit
girls
under Bat
Mitzva age
to do so
if they
wish.
Second
death in a
family
·
If a
mourner is
saying
Kaddish
for a
parent and
another
family member
dies
during
those
eleven
months,
the
mourner
says
Kaddish
for one
additional
month (a
total of
twelve
months).
Kaddish
during
High
Holiday
period
·
The text
of the
Kaddish is
slightly
modified
during the
Days of
Awe, the
ten-day
period
from Rosh
Hashana
through
Yom
Kippur. *
English
transliteration
Hebrew
Russian
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* all information was taken from The Jewish Mourner's Book of Why by Alfred J. Kolatch
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