plural kaddishes also kaddishim
kä-ˈdi-shim 
-(ˌ)shēm
often capitalized
: a Jewish prayer recited in the daily ritual of the synagogue and by mourners at public services after the death of a close relative
Examples of kaddish in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The movement was born during the 2014 Israel-Hamas War, when a group of young Jews organized a public recitation of the mourner’s kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead.
—
Atalia Omer, The Conversation, 21 May 2024
Backlit by light pouring in through glass bricks, Carell stands solemnly holding a piece of paper his captor printed out for him with the words of the kaddish.
—Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 June 2023
Reading from the Torah and saying certain prayers, including the kaddish, or mourner’s prayer, must take place in a group with a quorum of 10, known as a minyan.
—Religion News Service, oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2022
Beale, Godley and Overshown are dressed throughout in mourning suits, which is appropriate for a play that says a kaddish for American capitalism.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2022
There, around the open grave, additional prayers including a special kaddish, a praise of God, are recited and the casket is lowered.
—Jonathan D. Sarna, The Conversation, 24 Sep. 2020
In Hallelujah, the group’s kaddish for lost friends, Anderson portrays their lament similarly, using live theater devices that have a metaphysical effect.
—Armond White, National Review, 1 Apr. 2020
There were not enough people to say kaddish, the prayer for the dead, so the rabbi rang doorbells in the apartment building, looking for worshipers to join them.
—Dan Bilefsky, New York Times, 12 July 2019
The two Australian Jews stood side-by-side in the cemetery to recite the kaddish for their deceased siblings.
—Emanuella Grinberg, Smithsonian, 11 July 2018
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Atalia Omer, The Conversation, 21 May 2024
Backlit by light pouring in through glass bricks, Carell stands solemnly holding a piece of paper his captor printed out for him with the words of the kaddish.
—Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 June 2023
Reading from the Torah and saying certain prayers, including the kaddish, or mourner’s prayer, must take place in a group with a quorum of 10, known as a minyan.
—Religion News Service, oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2022
Beale, Godley and Overshown are dressed throughout in mourning suits, which is appropriate for a play that says a kaddish for American capitalism.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2022
There, around the open grave, additional prayers including a special kaddish, a praise of God, are recited and the casket is lowered.
—Jonathan D. Sarna, The Conversation, 24 Sep. 2020
In Hallelujah, the group’s kaddish for lost friends, Anderson portrays their lament similarly, using live theater devices that have a metaphysical effect.
—Armond White, National Review, 1 Apr. 2020
There were not enough people to say kaddish, the prayer for the dead, so the rabbi rang doorbells in the apartment building, looking for worshipers to join them.
—Dan Bilefsky, New York Times, 12 July 2019
The two Australian Jews stood side-by-side in the cemetery to recite the kaddish for their deceased siblings.
—Emanuella Grinberg, Smithsonian, 11 July 2018
Cite this Entry
“Kaddish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kaddish. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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