Jewish prayer
Kaddish (Mourner's Kaddish)
The Mourner's Kaddish in its original language, in English letters and with its meaning.
- 7 lines
- Under a minute to recite
- Kaddish (Mourner's Kaddish)
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא.בְּעָלְמָא דִי בְרָא כִּרְעוּתֵהּ, וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵי דְּכׇל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּעֲגַלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָא.יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרוֹמַם וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל, שְׁמֵהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּאלְעֵֽילָא מִן כׇּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא, תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחָמָתָא, דַאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינו וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
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- 1
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא.
Yitgadal veyitkadash shmeh rabba.
May His great name be magnified and sanctified.
- 2
בְּעָלְמָא דִי בְרָא כִּרְעוּתֵהּ, וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵי דְּכׇל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּעֲגַלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Be'alma di vera kir'uteh, veyamlich malchuteh bechayeichon uveyomeichon uvechayei dechol beit Yisrael, ba'agala uvizman kariv ve'imru amen:
In the world He created according to His will, may He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and in your days and in the lifetime of all the house of Israel, swiftly and soon; and say, Amen.
- 3
יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָא.
Yehe shmeh rabba mevarach le'alam ule'almei almaya.
May His great name be blessed forever and for all eternity.
- 4
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרוֹמַם וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל, שְׁמֵהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא
Yitbarach veyishtabach veyitpa'ar veyitromam veyitnase veyithadar veyit'ale veyithalal, shmeh dekudsha berich hu
May the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, be blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, honored, raised high, and lauded,
- 5
לְעֵֽילָא מִן כׇּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא, תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחָמָתָא, דַאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Le'eila min kol birchata veshirata, tushbechata venechamata, da'amiran be'alma. ve'imru amen:
Beyond all the blessings and songs, praises and consolations spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
- 6
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינו וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Yehe shlama rabba min shmaya vechayim aleinu ve'al kol Yisrael ve'imru amen:
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
- 7
עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Ose shalom bimromav hu ya'ase shalom aleinu ve'al kol Yisrael, ve'imru amen:
May He who makes peace in His heights make peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
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When it is prayed
In Jewish tradition, mourners recite Mourner's Kaddish during communal services throughout the customary mourning period. Many also recite it on a yahrzeit, the anniversary of a loved one's death. It is traditionally said with a minyan, a quorum for communal prayer, as an expression of faith and remembrance.
Where it comes from
Kaddish is rooted in rabbinic Jewish tradition and developed within communal worship. Its language is mainly Aramaic, with some Hebrew. Its use as a prayer recited by mourners became established in medieval Jewish practice.
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Questions about Kaddish (Mourner's Kaddish)
What does Mourner's Kaddish mean?
It praises and sanctifies God's name and asks for peace. Although associated with mourning, it does not directly mention death or the person who has died.
How long is Mourner's Kaddish?
The text shown here has 7 lines and takes under a minute to recite. The pace may vary with the person and the congregation.
What language is it in?
Mourner's Kaddish is mainly in Aramaic, with some Hebrew. The English letters help readers pronounce the original words.
Can Mourner's Kaddish be said alone?
In traditional Jewish practice, it is recited with a minyan rather than alone. Customs and guidance vary among Jewish communities.
Who wrote Mourner's Kaddish?
It is not attributed to a single known author. Its wording and use developed through Jewish communal and liturgical tradition.
