After the burial, our attention turns to the mourners. The burial service ends with Eil Malei Rahamim, recited by the rabbi or hazzan, and Mourner’s Kaddish (words are below in the appendix).

As we prepare to leave the graveside, traditionally all of those present will form two lines facing one another from the graveside to the road. The mourners then walk between the two lines and hear the words of consolation:

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים 

HaMakom yinahem etkhem b’tokh sh’ar avlei tzion virushalayim 

May the Everpresent comfort you among all those who are grieving

יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. [קהל: אמן]

בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]

קהל ואבל: יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא:

יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. [קהל: בריך הוא]

לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]

יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל:אמן]

עושה שָׁלום בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל:אמן]

Mourners: Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba.
Community: Amen
Mourners: B’alma di-v’ra ḥirutei, v’yamlich malḥutei, b’ḥayeiḥon uvyomeichon uvḥayei d’ḥol beit yisrael, ba’agala uvizman kariv, v’im’ru:
Mourners & Community: Amen. Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya.
Mourners: Yitbaraḥ v’yishtabaḥ, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam v’yitnaseh, v’yithadar v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’kud’sha,
Community: B’riḥ hu
Mourners: L’eila min-kol-birḥata v’shirata, tushb’ḥata v’neḥemata da’amiran b’alma, v’im’ru:
Community: Amen
Mourners: Y’hei shlama raba min-sh’maya v’ḥayim aleinu v’al-kol-yisrael, v’im’ru:
Community: Amen
Mourners: Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol-yisrael, v’imru:
Community: Amen

The bereaved now begin the phases of mourning. Jewish tradition requires the mourner to recite Mourner’s Kaddish each day throughout the periods below. This prayer can only be said in a gathering of 10 Jewish adults (a minyan). While finding a minyan to recite Kaddish can be a heavy obligation, the experience of being with community daily and dedicating moments to thinking about their loved one can be deeply meaningful. IKAR has a vibrant morning minyan community, and we welcome you to join at 8am PST Monday-Friday on Zoom. Mourner’s Kaddish is also recited on Shabbat and holidays.