Kaddish

[ Ashkenazic Hebrew kah-dish; Sephardic Hebrew kah-deesh ]

noun

, Judaism.

, plural Kad·di·shim [kah-, dish, -im, kah-dee-, sheem].

1. (italics) a liturgical prayer, consisting of three or six verses, recited at specified points during each of the three daily services and on certain other occasions.
2. (italics) Also called Mourner's Kaddish. the five-verse form of this prayer that is recited at specified points during each of the three daily services by one observing the mourning period of 11 months, beginning on the day of burial, for a deceased parent, sibling, child, or spouse, and by one observing the anniversary of such a death.
3. Kaddishim, persons who recite this prayer.

Kaddish

/ ˈkædɪʃ /

noun

1. an ancient Jewish liturgical prayer largely written in Aramaic and used in various forms to separate sections of the liturgy. Mourners have the right to recite some of these in public prayer during the year after, and on the anniversary of, a death
2. say Kaddish
   to be a mourner

Word History and Origins

Origin of Kaddish¹

First recorded in 1605–15, Kaddish is from the Aramaic word qaddīsh holy (one)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Kaddish¹

C17: from Aramaic qaddīsh holy

Example Sentences

(Maariv, p.1, NRG Hebrew) Palestinian youth says kaddish for a Holocaust survivor?

From The Daily Beast

In the synagogues the kaddish (prayer for the dead) was recited as for a beloved parent.

From Project Gutenberg

When they leave, the dying man teaches his son how to say "Kaddish" for his soul when he is dead.

From Project Gutenberg

They came to that gem of humility, the mourners' prayer; the ancient and ever-solemn Kaddish prayer.

From Project Gutenberg

There was not even one of her kin to say the first Kaddish over her resting-place.

From Project Gutenberg

I spoke the only Kaddish for her soul, but we, after all, were complete strangers to her!

From Project Gutenberg