Repost from September 2005 - Mourning
I invoke the vastness of the universe as it is all created according to plan. May the universe persist while you and all those who surround you dwell in this plain of existence.
May the universe persist forever.
Blessed is the universe, as the universe is glorious and transcends all praises, celebrations and blessings that we can utter and understand.
X
May we experience a peaceful life with all who surround us.
May the universe look kindly upon us and all who surround us.
This is my interpretation of the Kaddish Yatom, or Mourners Prayer. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since reading about the goings on in Reseda. What's strange about this prayer is that it is read as a "Kaddish" (which means sanctification) in many forms during a prayer service. It is Kaddish Shalem (full Kaddish), Kaddish Yatom (mourners Kaddish), Kaddish d'Rabbenan (Rabbi's Kaddish), Chatzi Kaddish (Half Kaddish), and Kaddish L'Chad'ta (Scholar's Kaddish).
The Kaddish Shalem is the 'full Kaddish.' The only line missing from the Kaddish Yatom, I interpret as the following:
"May our hopes, dreams and existence be beneficial to the universe."
(It goes where I put the "X" in my interpretation of the Kaddish Yatom.)
Why disclude this line for indication of mourning? Additionally, this form of Kaddish is spoken rather than sung to a tune. It's not like the Kaddish isn't repeated over and over in it's forms during a service. How silly, really. We repeat over and over about the hope of the world, and then when we need hope the most, we don't speak to it. We still utter the vastness of the universe and the wish for peace, but don't try for hope. Is it that we don't want to remind ourselves of the dispair? Are we trying to prevent thoughts of our unhappiness from drifting into the universe at large--from becoming part of our universe?
We can't deny that there is dispair in the world. We can't deny that we ourselves are affected by unpleasant and heart wrenching experiences.
Yitgadal, v'yitkadash... Magnified and Sanctified... is the translation of the first line of this prayer. There are things larger and more precious in this universe than we can ever comprehend; but we can understand how much one life can magnify our own consciousness of the preciousness of each of our lives.
**
You, who are reading this: You are my friend, and I find you more precious than... well, than I can describe. My distance may keep me from you, but you are always in my thoughts.
May the universe persist forever.
Blessed is the universe, as the universe is glorious and transcends all praises, celebrations and blessings that we can utter and understand.
X
May we experience a peaceful life with all who surround us.
May the universe look kindly upon us and all who surround us.
This is my interpretation of the Kaddish Yatom, or Mourners Prayer. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since reading about the goings on in Reseda. What's strange about this prayer is that it is read as a "Kaddish" (which means sanctification) in many forms during a prayer service. It is Kaddish Shalem (full Kaddish), Kaddish Yatom (mourners Kaddish), Kaddish d'Rabbenan (Rabbi's Kaddish), Chatzi Kaddish (Half Kaddish), and Kaddish L'Chad'ta (Scholar's Kaddish).
The Kaddish Shalem is the 'full Kaddish.' The only line missing from the Kaddish Yatom, I interpret as the following:
"May our hopes, dreams and existence be beneficial to the universe."
(It goes where I put the "X" in my interpretation of the Kaddish Yatom.)
Why disclude this line for indication of mourning? Additionally, this form of Kaddish is spoken rather than sung to a tune. It's not like the Kaddish isn't repeated over and over in it's forms during a service. How silly, really. We repeat over and over about the hope of the world, and then when we need hope the most, we don't speak to it. We still utter the vastness of the universe and the wish for peace, but don't try for hope. Is it that we don't want to remind ourselves of the dispair? Are we trying to prevent thoughts of our unhappiness from drifting into the universe at large--from becoming part of our universe?
We can't deny that there is dispair in the world. We can't deny that we ourselves are affected by unpleasant and heart wrenching experiences.
Yitgadal, v'yitkadash... Magnified and Sanctified... is the translation of the first line of this prayer. There are things larger and more precious in this universe than we can ever comprehend; but we can understand how much one life can magnify our own consciousness of the preciousness of each of our lives.
**
You, who are reading this: You are my friend, and I find you more precious than... well, than I can describe. My distance may keep me from you, but you are always in my thoughts.