Wednesday, November 07, 2007

While reading the book Kaddish by Leon Weltseltier about both the history and origins of "The Mourner's Kaddish" I came across the prayer, which I had never heard nor seen before, but found a copy of obviously built from the ground up from Hebrew. Apparently, it was originally composed in Aramaic both for Rabbinical and for those who wish to exhalt God for the purpose of protecting loved ones after their time of death... It seems a beautiful prayer and though I do not know the Hebrew, I was still touched by Mr. Weltseltier's meticulous study of this prayer, according to him, was to attempt to connect, understand and have a new relationship with this prayer.

Exalted and sanctified is God's great name.
in the world which He has created according to His will
and may He establish His kingdom
may his salvation blossom and his anointed near.
in your lifetime and your days
and in the lifetimes of all the House of Israel
speedily and soon; and say, Amen.

May His great name be blessed
forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted,
extolled and honored, elevated and lauded
be the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He
beyond (far beyond) all the blessings
and hymns, praises and consolations
that are spoken in the world; and say, Amen.

* * * * * * * * * * *

{The half kaddish ends here.
Here the "complete kaddish" includes:}

* * * * * * * * * * *
Let them be accepted: the prayers and supplications
of the entire House of Israel
before their Father in Heaven; and say, Amen.

{Here the "kaddish of the rabbis" includes: }

Upon Israel and its rabbis and their students
and upon all their student's students
and upon all those who engage in the Torah
here and in all other places
may they and you have much peace
grace and kindness and mercy and long life
and plentiful nourishment and salvation
from before their Father in Heaven [and Earth];
and say, Amen.

{All variants but the half kaddish conclude:}

May there be much peace from Heaven,
[and] [good] life
and satiety, and salvation, and comfort, and saving
and healing and redemption and forgiveness and atonement
and relief and deliveranced
for us and for all His people Israel; and say, Amen.

He who makes peace in His heights
may He [in his mercy] make peace upon us
and upon all [his nation] Israel; and say, Amen.
in the world which will be renewed
and He will give life to the dead
and raise them to eternal life
and rebuild the city of Jerusalem
and establish his temple within
removing foreign worship from the earth
and the Heavenly service shall return
and the Holy One, blessed is He
in his kingship and splendour ...

No comments: