Kaddish: Difference between revisions

==Who should say Kaddish==

# The midrashim speak how a child saying Kaddish for a parent could save the parent from a harsh judgement in heaven. Therefore, the minhag is to say Kaddish for a parent as well as get the Aliyah of Maftir and to pray as the Shaliach Tzibur especially for [[Arvit]]. <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 27:1</reF>

# The Sephardic minhag is that anyone who wants may say Kaddish even if that is a number of people together. <ref> Kaf HaChaim 132:16. The Chatam Sofer YD 2:345 records this as the Sephardic minhag as well.</ref> For a discussion on the Ashkenazic minhag see [http://www.torahmusings.com/2014/01/may-multiple-people-say-kaddish-simultaneously/ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz]  

# Although saying Kaddish and [[prayers]] in the merit of one's parents, the primary merit for parents is that a child follows in the just and proper way.<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 27:22</reF>

# It is permissible to recite kaddish in memory of a non-Jew as long as the one who you are saying it for was a moral individual. <ref> Sh"t Yechave Daat 6:60 </ref>

# One may only say Kaddish in a congregation of 10 men above the age of [[Bar Mitzvah]].<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 12, laws of kaddish, seif 1, Kitzur S"A of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu 15:1</ref> The person saying Kaddish is included in the [[minyan]], meaning that there has to be 9 people listening to Kaddish besides for the one saying Kaddish. <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:7</ref>

# If one cannot find ten men, it is permissible to use one katan, 9 or 10 years old, who has reached the age of [[chinuch]], for it is better than completely nullifying kaddish. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 12, laws of kaddish, seif 1 </ref>

#  If there is up to four people in the [[minyan]] saying [[Shemona Esreh]] and will not be able to answer Kaddish, nonetheless, one may say Kaddish because there is a majority of the [[minyan]] who can answer.<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:7, Ben Ish Chai, Perashat Vayechi, 5</ref>

# If one began Kaddish with 10 men and one left, one may nonetheless finish kaddish. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 12, laws of kaddish, seif 7 </ref>

# One need not be meticulous and strict with regard to making sure that everyone is the [[minyan]] had 2 pubic hairs. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 12, laws of kaddish, seif 11 </ref>

# If there are 10 men and one of the [[minyan]] is unable to answer to kaddish, kaddish may nonetheless be recited. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 12, laws of kaddish, seif 12 </ref>

# If there are 10 men and one of the [[minyan]] is sleeping, kaddish may nonetheless be recited. Nevertheless, one should wake up the sleeper. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 12, laws of kaddish, seif 12 </ref>

==When Kaddish may be said==

# If there's no [[minyan]] when the congregation reaches the end of [[Pesukei DeZimrah]], they should wait for a [[minyan]] prior to saying Yishtabach because if they say Yishtabach and only get a [[minyan]] afterwards they shouldn't say Kaddish until they first say some pesukim.<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:1</ref>

==Answering to Kaddish==

# It is proper to wait a little bit in between answering "[[amen]]" and "yehe sheme raba" when answering to kaddish. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 12, laws of answering to kaddish, seif 11 </ref>

==Proper practices of the congregation during Kaddish==

# The congregants should listen carefully and answer the appropriate responses with kavana. <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:5</ref>

# Anyone who answers "[[Amen]] Yehey Sheme Rabba..." with all of his strength and kavana any heavenly bad decree against him is ripped up.<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:5</ref>

# Just like of does not walk in front of one who is praying, so too one should not walk in front of someone who is reciting kaddish. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 12, laws of kaddish, seif 2; Ben Ish Chai (Vayechi, 10) </ref>

# The Sephardic custom is to respond "Amen yehe sheme raba..." until the word "Be'alma," and one should not answer "Amen" after the Hazzan says "Berich hu" unless one has completed the full response.