Trauer-Album — The meaning of Kaddish

English translation

The meaning of the Kaddish prayer It is the exalted paraphrase of the short but weighty saying: “God has given, God has taken; praised be the name of God.” Before you lie the fragments of your happiness, the ruins of your home, the ashes of your most ardent love, the withered leaves of your fairest hopes: the closed eye, the broken heart and the rigid hand of the beloved of your soul. The dark grave opens, swallows and conceals forever what was dearest to you on earth. You do not wring your hands despairingly toward heaven; rather, in devout submission you say: God gave the delight of my soul, the happiness of my heart, the light of my house; God has taken—taken from me and taken to Himself. I do not lament, I do not murmur; instead I cry: praised be the name of God. This is the highest strength of faith, the warmest intimacy of faith, the fullest submission to God’s will, and for months you repeat it in exalted paraphrase before the ears of the congregation. You say: “Praised and sanctified be the great and incomparable name of God.” You submit yourself to His will and rule, His law over life and death. Generations arise and pass away, pass away and arise; all prepare the way for God’s justice, God’s rule and the triumph of love in the human world. Your father and your mother also worked toward this in their lifetimes, according to their powers and in their own way, and therefore enjoy eternal blessedness. Your voice sounds ever stronger, and with all the richness of the Hebrew language you praise, laud, glorify, exalt, elevate, magnify and bless the name of the holy God, whom no language can worthily praise. The gates of heaven open and angels of peace beckon to you because you prove yourself so strong in faith, so humble and devoted. With all the fire of devotion you pray: May the God of peace in the heavenly heights, where my dear ones dwell in blessed transfiguration and enjoy untroubled peace, send peace to the sorrow-laden and mourning sons and daughters, the lamenting widows and orphans, all whose hearts death has wounded. And the congregation calls to you: Amen! Yes, dear brother in faith: peace in the heights of heaven, peace on earth, peace to the blessed, peace to the mourners. Amen. Dr. A. Jellinek, Vienna.

Complete English translation of the legible text prepared for the Reichenbach Family Archive. Brackets identify text that is blank, damaged or not securely legible.