The Documentary Podcast Heart and Soul: Kaddish - why we pray for the dead
Jan 17, 2025
Rabbi Herschel Gluck discusses the significance of Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead, and its central role in mourning practices. Ruth Langer, a Professor of Jewish studies, provides insight into the prayer's historical evolution and its emotional weight. The conversation explores how Kaddish fosters connections between the living and the deceased, intertwines with Jewish identity, and serves as a powerful tool for remembering Holocaust victims. Anecdotes and reflections illuminate the prayer's profound impact on communal grief and personal loss.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Kaddish's Power
- Rabbi Akiva helped a suffering soul by having the man's son recite Kaddish.
- This demonstrates Kaddish's power to connect the living and the dead.
Kaddish's Evolution
- Kaddish's role as a mourner's prayer evolved over time.
- Originally a prayer for study sessions, it became central to mourning in the Middle Ages alongside evolving death rituals.
Language of Kaddish
- Kaddish is recited in Aramaic, the vernacular language of its time.
- Unlike other prayers in Hebrew, Kaddish's use of everyday language made it more accessible.