Kesher Talk

Make the God-name big! Since I will stop saying Kaddish for my uncle on Wednesday (it is recited for 30 days after the death for relatives other than parents), I want to share my favorite translation of the Kaddish (the version said by mourners, officially known as the Orphan's Kaddish, and if you want to know more about the origin of that name and its medieval development as a "prayer for the dead," you will find more than you ever thought you wanted to know here):

Make the God-name big.
Big and holy.
Do it in this world,
This creation sprung from consciousness,
And bring some order to this.
Do it fast, soon, in our lives, in the days ahead, in the life of the people we call home.
Everybody join with me: May the name be blessed forever and ever!
Yes, blessed.
Blessed, whispered, sung out, shouted, honored, this holy name.
The name is beyond any song, poem, or comforting words we could ever speak.
Eveybody say: That's the truth!
May a big peace descend from the heavens, a life-giving peace for all of us, for our beloved people,
Let everybody say: May it be true!
Make that peace in the heavens, great peacemaker, great One who brings wholeness to our people.
Stop.
Everybody pray:
May it be true.

posted by Judith @ 10/29/2002 05:34:32 PM