Preserve the memory of your loved one with a plaque on our Yahrzeit Wall. Learn More ->

Search
Close this search box.

Prelude to Kaddish

Written for a friend who was abused by his father, and was in anguish on how the approach his father’s yahrzeit.

Prelude to Kaddish

I am humbled for the permission to address You.
“One is obligated to bless God for the evil
As one blesses God for the good” (1)
“God gives and God takes away
May the name of God be blessed
Now and forever. ” (2)
Your giving is usually the good
Your taking, the evil.

On this yahrtzeit I express to You that the opposite is true.
The giving was cruel, tormenting and abusive.
Your creations can be that way.
The taking away- a relief.
A chance to muster the remnants of my dignity,
To struggle and heal my body and human spirit,
To release my soul to do Your work.

On this yahrzeit, the cause for celebration and sadness are confused
Inverted.
If for You there is clarity, For me: “Im tov, im rah” (3) The good spawns also bad
The bad spawns also good. (4)
Daunting complexity.
“Cursed Haman”, blessed Haman (5)
Intoxicating madness.

But I must bless You for both.
For the good, for the evil,
For all that my life comprises,
For his “loss”; for me a gain,
For giving
And for taking away

“May the name of God be blessed now and forever.” (2)
Yisgadal vi’yiskaddash sh’mei rabba.”

(1) Berachos 33B, (2) Job 1:21 / burial prayer, (3) Koheles 12:14, (4) Chagiga 5A, (5) Megilah 7B

Honor the memory of your loved one with a donation to support Ritualwell

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Rituals

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

Join author Evonne Marzouk to find ways to strengthen your experience as a spiritual being, expand your consciousness and deepen your ability to be present. Through study and creative writing, you’ll take away new strategies to use in daily life. 

Hope you’ll join us!

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network