Remembrance and Renewal: Navigating Grief Through Prayer
On the one-year commemoration of October 7, we reflect on profound loss and take comfort in what we can learn from our Jewish tradition of mourning. The Kaddish, a foundational prayer recited in memory of loved ones, offers a framework for understanding how Jewish mourning rituals provide space not only for grief, but also for resilience, continuity, and the continuation of the human spirit in the face of deep sorrow.
The Structure of Kaddish: A Prayer of Praise Amid Sorrow
While the Kaddish is a prayer said at times of mourning, it is also a statement about life and understanding G-d. The prayer begins with “Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei rabba” — “May G-d’s great name be magnified and sanctified.” In commemorating the tragic events of October 7, this first sentence emphasizes that even amid great sorrow, Jewish tradition calls for a reaffirmation of faith and belief that life will give us hope for better times.
This belief, despite the darkness that surrounds us, is a reminder of the resilience of the Jewish people. On the anniversary of October 7, reciting or reflecting on the Kaddish symbolizes our determination to find strength in faith, and to recall the source of support that exists around us even when we are grappling with trauma and loss.
“B’alma di-v’ra khirutei” — A Vision of Peace in a Broken World
The Kaddish states “which God created according to Their divine,” which implies that everything is part of creation, even the times that are terrible and difficult to understand. This line of Kaddish offers a subtle hope: Even in a world that contains incomprehensible tragedy, there also exist ways we can come together to support each other, and try to hold each other’s pain.
We honor those who were lost or harmed on October 7 and its aftermath, and work on repairing the world in a way that reflects our beliefs and values. Reciting and reflecting on the Kaddish can remind us that we are not powerless, and we hold the tools to emerge from this tragedy less broken than before.
Community in Mourning: The Kaddish as a Shared Act
Reciting the Kaddish is an act of community, as it needs a gathering of at least 10 people to recite the prayer. On the one-year anniversary of October 7, in our community gatherings, we will remember, reflect, and grieve together in the same spirit. The shared experience of reciting Kaddish can help us heal, and affirms that while we may think we are suffering alone, in reality, it is something that we all bear together.
A Call for Healing and Renewal
Toward the end of the Kaddish, the prayer asks for “peace from heaven” (Y’hei shlama raba min-sh’maya), and for peace to reign over us all. These words reflect a yearning for the end of suffering, and illustrate a comfort that we yearn for. On October 7, as we come together to remember, we think of the Kaddish to re-center our desire for peace across all our communities as we make our way through a new year.
Elevating Memory through Kaddish
On the one-year anniversary of October 7, the Kaddish serves as a poignant framework for remembrance, healing, and resilience. It sends a powerful message that even in the face of the unspeakable, we are called to sanctify life, to come together in community, and to look toward a future where we will stand strong and keep moving forward. The prayer’s timeless message of praise, hope, and unity offers profound meaning, as we honor the past and seek a path forward together.
Judith Moses Dworkin is the Senior Vice President of Campus Life and Advocacy at Hillel Ontario. Originally from Toronto, Judith has also worked at Hillels in North Carolina and Michigan.
Remembrance and Renewal is a series of reflections around the High Holidays and the first commemoration of October 7 from Hillel rabbis across North America.