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The Mourner's Prayer

Kaddish

A prayer of praise recited by mourners, ending with a prayer for peace.

About the Kaddish

The Kaddish is written mainly in Aramaic, the everyday language of many Jews in ancient times, using Hebrew letters. The Mourner's Kaddish does not mention death. It praises God's greatness and asks for peace for the living.

Kaddish is traditionally said with a minyan, a quorum of ten Jewish worshippers. The people present answer "Amen" and the other responses together.

The Burial Kaddish is said at the graveside. It adds words about the renewal of the world, the resurrection of the dead and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Reading the text on this page

The transliteration spells the Aramaic and Hebrew sounds in English letters so you can say the words aloud. The English translation gives their meaning. Pronunciation and customs vary between communities, so follow the rabbi leading the service.

Mourner’s Kaddish

Recited during the mourning period and on a loved one’s yahrzeit.

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How to pronounce the words, in English letters.

Mourners

יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ, וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן.

Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba. B’alma di v’ra chirutei, v’yamlich malchutei b’chayeichon uv’yomeichon uv’chayei d’chol beit Yisrael, ba’agala uvizman kariv, v’imru amen.

Congregation and mourners

יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא.

Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya.

Mourners

יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרוֹמַם וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן.

Yitbarach v’yishtabach, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam, v’yitnasei v’yithadar, v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’kudsha, b’rich hu. L’eila min kol birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata v’nechemata da’amiran b’alma, v’imru amen.

Mourners

יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן.

Y’hei shlama raba min sh’maya v’chayim aleinu v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru amen.

Mourners

עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן.

Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru amen.