Mourners’ Kaddish in Time of War and Violence
Dear companions in the struggle for a decent world, in the midst of sorrow, violence, and trauma, we need to rediscover the deep meanings of the Mourners Kaddish.
What follows is my journey into that rediscovery.
The Jewish prayer that is used to mourn the dead is the Kaddish, though it has in it only one word — "nechamata, consolations" — which hints at mourning.
The interpretive English addresses the meaning of "shmei rabbah," the "Great Name," which is interpreted as that Name which includes and connects all the names of all beings in the universe and which is also present within all beings;
Why — in the midst of saying we cannot praise, celebrate, or sing to God enough to meet the Reality — do we also say we cannot CONSOLE (nechamata) God enough? The midrashic answer is that when human beings who bear the Image of God are slaughtering other humans who bear the Image of God, God is inconsolable;
The next-to-last verse focuses on dissolving trauma and preserving life for those of our own "family," the Godwrestlers, and then the last verse prays for shalom, profound wholeness and harmony, within us and among us (those immediately present), for all the Godwrestling folk (Yisrael), for all the children of Ishmael (which means “God will hearken”), and for all life upon this planet.
The intertwined Aramaic/ Hebrew and midrashic English translation follows, with my blessings for you woven in the Kaddish words themselves.
— Arthur
MOURNERS' KADDISH
IN TIME OF WAR AND VIOLENCE
Yitgadal V'yit'kadash Shmei Rabah
May the Great Name, through our own expanding awareness and our fuller action, lift Itself to become still higher and more holy;
May our names, along with all the names of all the beings in the universe, live within the Great Name;
May the names of all whom we can no longer touch but who have touched our hearts and lives, remain alight within our memories and in the Great Name;
May the names of all who have died in violence and war be kept alight in our sight and in the Great Name, with sorrow that we were not yet able to shape a world in which they would have lived. (Cong:Amein)
B'alma di vra chi'rooteh v'yamlich malchuteh b'chayeichun, u'v'yomeichun, u'v'chayei d'chol beit yisrael, b'agalah u'vzman kariv, v'imru:—
May Your Great Name lift Itself
still higher and more holy
throughout the world that You have offered us,
a world of majestic peaceful order
that gives life to the Godwrestling folk
through time and through eternity —
And let's say, Amein (Cong: Amein)
Y'hei sh'mei rabbah me'vorach l'olam almei almaya.
So therefore may the Great Name be blessed, through every Mystery and Mastery of every universe.
Yitbarach, v'yishtabach, v'yitpa'ar, v'yitromam, v'yitnasei, v'yithadar, v'yit'aleh, v'yithalal — Shmei di'kudshah, — Brich hu (Cong: Brich Hu)
May the Great Name be blessed and celebrated, Its beauty honored and raised high; may It be lifted and carried, may Its radiance be praised in all Its Holiness —Blessed be!
L'eylah min kol bir'chatah v'shir'atah tush'be'chatah v'nechematah, de'amiran be'alma, v'imru: Amein (Cong: Amein)
Even though we cannot give You enough blessing, enough song, enough praise, enough consolation
to match what we wish to lay before You –
And though we know that today there is no way to console You when among us some who bear Your Image in our being are slaughtering others who bear Your Image in our being.
Yehei Shlama Rabah min Shemaya v'chayyim aleinu v'al kol Yisrael, v'imru Amein.
Still we beseech that from the unity of Your Great Name flow the dissolving of our ancient and our recent traumas, into great harmony and joyful life for all who wrestle God. (Cong: Amein)
Oseh Shalom bi'm'romav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu v'al kol yisrael v'al kol yishmael v'al kol yoshvei tevel — v'imru: Amein.
You who make harmony
in the ultimate reaches of the universe,
teach us to make harmony
within ourselves, among ourselves —
and peace for the Godwrestling folk,
the people Israel;
for our cousins the children of Ishmael;
and for all who dwell upon this planet.
(Cong: Amein)
Oseh Shalom bi'm'romav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu v'al kol yisrael v'al kol yishmael v'al kol yoshvei tevel — v'imru: Amein.