קדיש יתום | Mourner's Ḳaddish, an interpretive rhyming translation by Alan Wagman • the Open Siddur Project

Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., interpretive translation, prayers of orphans, rhyming translation, קדיש יתום Mourner's Ḳaddish

Excerpt: This is an English language interpretation of Kaddish, intended to capture the spirit of translations/interpretations that I have seen in various sources and also to capture the sound and rhythm of the Aramaic text, including syllables which, when read simultaneously with the Aramaic, rhyme with the Aramaic. . . .

Content:

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ, בְּחַיֵּיכוֺן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן׃	It is all and won’t be lost, the Holy Name (amein). We all make Divine words of praise for here lead all true ways. Afar yet home we are going home and seek the way to our home, Yisrael. Into lives You come and never leave. Blessed be You, Amein.
יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא׃	We say the Name Oneness and we hear of the time when we may all know Yah.
יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח, וְיִתְפָּאֵר, וְיִתְרוֹמֵם, וְיִתְנַשּׂא, וְיִתְהַדָּר, וְיִתְעַלֶּה, וְיִתְהַלָּל, שְׁמֵהּ דְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא, תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא, דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן׃	Beyond a sigh, the reason why or Reason’s “Why?”, magnify and glorify and sanctify, praise to the sky, praise low and high, the Name of Holy Awe, We Bless You, Who gives law, breathes life into law, law filled with awe, holy law from which we don’t withdraw but breathe deep into the soul. Blessed be You, Amein.
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָה רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים וְעַל כָּל יִשְֹרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן׃	We pray, hush be silent, when all are here and all are gone, may You bless all of Yisrael. Blessed be You, Amein.
עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ (וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל) וְעַל כָּל יוֺשְׁבֵי תֵבֶל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן׃	Oh, say, “Shalom,” this is love, and when we say, “Shalom,” we name You, joined with all Yisrael, (and all the world). Blessed be You, Amein.

This is an English language interpretation of the Mourner’s Ḳaddish, intended to capture the spirit of translations/interpretations that I have seen in various sources and also to capture the sound and rhythm of the Aramaic text, including syllables which, when read simultaneously with the Aramaic, rhyme with the Aramaic.

Featured Image:
Kaddish

Title: Kaddish
Caption: "Kaddish" adapted from the cover art for Allen Ginsberg's "Kaddish for Naomi Ginsberg (1894-1956)"