Sholom Ber Hecht

There is another aspect to the customs of the Yartzeit. There is a practice to fast on a Yartzeit and especially on the Yartzeit of a Tzaddik. However, we do not find such a practice recorded in the customs of Chabad nor in Chabad books.the Tanya, Torah O...

On the Shabbos that follows the cessation of Kaddish a new system begins for the soaring soul and it also introduces a new order revealed in the physical world, because the new order is not only for the soul but also for the one who says the Kaddish. And ...

We may now fathom the logic for saying Kaddish once again at the close of the 12 months. The recitation of Kaddish for 11 months was for the purpose of helping the soul rise from level to level. In continuation to those ascents we say Kaddish again after ...

Another example of this may be found in the mitzvah of tzedakah. The mitzvah of tzedakah represents a basic and simple good deed. It is an act which anyone may perform and it is certainly one of the initial steps in a person’s Divine service. One can easi...

It is a manifestation of the infinite mercy of the Holy One, Blessed be He, that He set the route of salvation to depend on the recitation of Kaddish by the mourners: “Yisgadal — exalted and hallowed be His great Name.” It is this prayer which causes the ...

One of the earliest Talmudic sources which deals with the Kaddish prayer directly associates the recitation of Kaddish with the mourners and makes the point that the Kaddish alleviates the judgment of the wicked. The following story is told about Rabbi Ak...

There is a parallel explanation expounded in the esoteric teachings of the Arizal concerning the function of the Kaddish prayer in the order of the daily prayers. The purpose of the Kaddish, according to this interpretation, is to effect an ascent from sp...

If the purpose of Kaddish is to alleviate the judgment of the soul (the neshamah) — for which reason we cease saying Kaddish after 11 months — then why is it at all necessary to recite Kaddish after the passing of a great tzaddik, a righteous man or woman...

This facet of our custom to conclude the Kaddish a full month before the Yartzeit emphasizes our strong faith in the efficacy of our positive action to help the soul reach its place in paradise as soon as possible. In addition to the custom outlined above...

One of the most sacred rituals which has been faithfully observed by all Jews throughout the generations is the practice of reciting Kaddish at the three daily prayers during the year of mourning. Halachah rules that we begin saying the Kaddish at the tim...