Kaddish

From Halachipedia

Who should say Kaddish

  1. 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.[1]
  2. The Sephardic minhag is that anyone who wants may say Kaddish even if that is a number of people together. [2]
  3. 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.[3]

Requirements for Kaddish

  1. One may only say Kaddish in a congregation of 10 men above the age of Bar Mitzvah.[4] 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. [5]
  2. 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.[6]

When Kaddish may be said

  1. 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.[7]

Proper practices of the congregation during Kaddish

  1. The congregants should listen carefully and answer the appropriate responses with kavana. [8]
  2. Anyone who answers "Amen Yehey Sheme Rabba..." with all of his strength and kavana any heavenly bad decree against him is ripped up.[9]

References

  1. Kitzur S"A 27:1
  2. Kaf HaChaim 132:16
  3. Kitzur S"A 27:22
  4. Kitzur S"A 15:1
  5. Kitzur S"A 15:7
  6. Kitzur S"A 15:7
  7. Kitzur S"A 15:1
  8. Kitzur S"A 15:5
  9. Kitzur S"A 15:5