Kaddish: Jewish Prayer of Mourning

As many of you know, Gregory considered himself a "Recovered Catholic" and I consider myself a "Cultural Jew." Both of us considered ourselves spiritual without the need for adhering to any one particular religion.

I find, however at times like this, my childhood training and experiences as well as the "cultural" part of my Judaism does give me comfort.

Jews pray three times a day, morning, afternoon and night. The morning prayer is the longest and the mourners say at least one Kaddish at the beginning and several at the end. For the afternoon and evening prayers, the mourners say the Kaddish only once or twice at the end.

When a person dies, the Mourner's Kaddish is recited at every day's service, morning, afternoon, and evening, Sabbath and holiday, on days of fasting and of rejoicing, every day for thirty days for all relatives except parents and a year for parents. 

It says nothing about death but rather extols God's greatness. Here is the recitation of the kaddish and an English translation:

Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will.

May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon;

and say, Amen.

May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.

Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, 

Amen.

He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel;

and say, Amen.