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BOARD OF JEWISH EDUCATION
OF GREATER NEW YORK
-An Agency of UJA-Federation -
Zochraynu: We Remember
SEPTEMBER 11: Yahrzeit
of a National Tragedy
Sharon Halper, BJE Westchester
Coordinator of Professional Development
The Kaddish
Recitation of the Mourner's Kaddish
is the quintessential Jewish act of remembrance. It is an affirmation of the
greatness of God and a plea for the coming of God's kingdom.
For further material on the forms
and history of the Kaddish, its textual sources and readings that are appropriate
for the remembrance portion of the worship service see:
Fields, Harvey J. B'chol L'vavcha.
UAHC Press. NY, NY. 2001.
Garfiel, Evelyn. Service of the Heart. Jason Aronson. Northvale, NJ.
1989.
Maslin, Simeon. Gates of Mitzvah. CCAR Press. NY, NY. 1979.
Studying the Kaddish
For prayer to be an act of reverence,
it cannot be an act of memory alone.
Our prayers are expressions of who
we are and who we aspire to be. Studying the Kaddish as a prelude to a memorial
service in honor of those lost on September 11 helps to focus students' attention
on the words and values of the prayer.
First:
· Provide each student with a prayer book or copy of the Kaddish.
· Read the English slowly and carefully, being certain that students
understand the vocabulary.
Discussion Questions:
- What is the Kaddish prayer
really about?
Praise of God.
- What does it say about God?
God's greatness should be praised.
The world is a result of God's desire.
God's goodness is beyond our ability to praise.
God is the maker of peace.
- What does it say about people?
We praise God's name.
We pray for the coming of God's kingdom in our lifetime.
We pray for peace for the people of Israel and all humanity.
- What does the Kaddish say about
death or the deceased person(s)?
Nothing!
Why might this be the case?
Some possibilities include:
When we are in mourning we need to
remember that God is present and with us.
When we are in mourning we need to be reminded to focus our energies forward.
The prayer reminds us that we are not alone; we are part of a people.
- Are the statements
expressed in the Kaddish exclusive to Jews?
No. While the Kaddish is a Jewish prayer, it includes mention of the welfare
of all of humanity.
- How can we praise God's name
after Sept. 11 (or the Holocaust? or any national or personal tragedy?)
The question of God's role in human
tragedy is certain to come up.
There is no answer, just responses that allow us to live in our world in the
presence of the divine.
Some responses are:
- · God allows people
free choice. Our choices, and the choices of all of humanity, determine
the world we create.
- God is not all-powerful and
cries along with us in the face of tragedy.
- We cannot understand God's
role in the world. Only God knows the divine plan.
- God exists when we help one
another. Therefore God was in the hands of every relief worker, every
child who raised money selling lemonade, everyone who watched television
and wiped their tears.
Method:
The above responses might be offered
in a '4-corner exercise,' allowing each student to select the choice that
best approximates his understanding of the presence of God in the face of
evil (theodicy). Students then discuss their viewpoint and present a statement
of it to the other groups.
Students might be allowed to change
their groups once presentations are made, but the goal of the presentations
is not for 'conversion'.
Allow for a group called 'other'
so that students with other opinions can express them within the context of
the exercise.
Praying the Kaddish
Our students' familiarity with the
Kaddish challenges the worship leader to introduce ways of focusing student
attention and thoughtfulness, rather than merely conducting a rote recitation.
Some suggestions:
- Have students write or select
brief introductions to the Kaddish section of the service that complement
its meaning.
- Interweave the Aramaic reading
of the Kaddish with English the translation.
- Have students write a 'translation'
of the English in familiar words. (You might not want to use this as part
of a worship service but it is a valuable exercise in deepening student
understanding.)
- Have students research the
history of the Kaddish as a way of appreciating the functions that it
serves and its relationship to death and mourning.
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