What is the Mourner's Kaddish?

An ancient Aramaic prayer recited in memory of a loved one. It contains no mention of death — it is a sanctification of God's name, spoken in the midst of grief as an act of faith.

How long do you say Kaddish?

For a parent: 11 months from burial, plus on every yahrzeit (anniversary). For a spouse, child, or sibling: 30 days, plus yahrzeit.

Do you need a minyan to say Kaddish?

Traditionally yes — a quorum of 10 Jewish adults. In Reform and many Conservative communities, Kaddish may be recited without a minyan if necessary.

Can a woman say Kaddish?

Yes. In all modern movements (including Modern Orthodox) women say Kaddish for their loved ones.

All guides

The Mourner's Kaddish

A prayer that sanctifies God's name in the middle of grief — Aramaic, transliteration, and translation.

The Mourner's Kaddish (Kaddish Yatom) is one of the oldest and most powerful Jewish prayers. Remarkably, it never mentions death. Spoken by the bereaved, it is an act of faith — affirming the holiness of God in the very moment when faith feels hardest.

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When it is said

At every weekday, Shabbat, and festival service for 11 months after a parent's death.
For 30 days after the death of a spouse, child, or sibling.
On every yahrzeit (annual anniversary of the death, by the Hebrew calendar).
At Yizkor services (Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, Pesach, Shavuot).

Aramaic + transliteration

Yit'gadal v'yit'kadash sh'mei raba — May His great name be exalted and sanctified.
B'al'ma di v'ra chi'rutei, v'yam'lich mal'chutei — In the world He created according to His will, and may His kingdom come.
B'chai'yeichon u'v'yo'meichon u'v'chai'yei d'chol beit Yisrael — In your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of all the house of Israel.
Ba'agala u'viz'man kariv, v'imru: Amen. — Speedily and soon, and let us say: Amen.
(Congregation:) Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varach l'alam u'l'almei al'maya. — May His great name be blessed forever and ever.
Yit'barach v'yish'tabach v'yit'pa'ar v'yit'romam v'yit'nasei, v'yit'hadar v'yit'aleh v'yit'halal sh'mei d'kud'sha, b'rich hu. — Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, mighty, upraised, and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed is He.
L'eila min kol bir'chata v'shi'rata, tush'b'chata v'ne'che'mata, da'amiran b'al'ma, v'imru: Amen. — Above all blessings, songs, praises, and consolations spoken in the world. And let us say: Amen.
Y'hei sh'lama raba min sh'maya v'chayim aleinu v'al kol Yisrael, v'imru: Amen. — May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life upon us and upon all Israel. And let us say: Amen.
Oseh shalom bim'romav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu v'al kol Yisrael, v'imru: Amen. — He who makes peace in His high places, may He make peace upon us and upon all Israel. And let us say: Amen.

Finding a minyan

Many synagogues hold daily morning and evening minyanim specifically so mourners can say Kaddish. If you cannot find a daily minyan, your synagogue's clergy can connect you with a partner congregation, a Zoom minyan, or a chevra (group of fellow mourners).

What to say if you don't read Hebrew

Use the transliteration. The text is in Aramaic — even most Hebrew readers do not 'understand' it as they read. The act of standing and speaking it in community is the prayer.