- Family and Society
- Year of Mourning for Parents
Question
Why do we recite the kaddish after the death of a loved one as well as what is the significance of saying the kaddish, lastly why is it limited to only those that have lost a parent or sibling?
Answer
Kaddish is said not after the death of "a loved one" but after the death of a person's mother or father (or brother or sister- if there is no son or father to say the kaddish). The kaddish sanctifies G-d's name and- said by a son (who, in a sense, is a continuation of his parents) in the memory of his parent- acts to offset any act of desecration that may have been caused by the deceased. Also, because the mourner, in his anguish might come to question the justice of G-d's providence, the saying of the kaddish reenforces his faith (Gesher Hachayyim I ch. 30, 4 a).

Davening for amud
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 25, 5775

Mourner attending a brit milah
Rabbi David Sperling | Tishrei 9, 5780

Yartzheit in leap year - Kaddish
Various Rabbis | 18 Adar I 5763

Business travel during mourning year
Rabbi Baruch Finkelstein | 23 Elul 5767

Why is Elohim in the plural
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Av 17, 5781

Dwelling in the Land of Israel
Rabbi David Samson | 11 Elul 5763

Prayer beads
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 1, 5781
