This prayer is written in Aramaic and is used to mark the end of one section of a service and the beginning of the next. “Kaddish” comes from the Hebrew word for holiness. The Kaddish is called the “chatzi” Kaddish or half Kaddish because it omits one verse from the basic version. It is also the Reader’s Kaddish because it is used to separate the different parts of the service and offer holy transition.
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵיהּ, וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵיהּ בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל. בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’meih raba b’alma di v’ra chiruteih, v’yamlich malchuteih b’chayeichon uv’yomeichon uv’chayei d’chol beit Yisrael, baagala uviz’man kariv, v’imru: Amen.
Exalted and hallowed be God’s great name, in the world which God created, according to plan. May God’s majesty be revealed in the days of your lifetime and the life of all Israel – speedily, imminently. To which we say: Amen.
יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא: יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרוֹמַם וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְעֵֽלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא, דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Y’hei sh’meih raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya. Yitbarach v’yishtabach v’yitpaar v’yitromam v’yitnasei, v’yit’hadar v’yitaleh v’yithalal sh’meih d’kud’sha b’rich hu, l’eila min kol birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata v’nechemata, daamiran b’alma, v’imru: Amen.
Blessed by God’s great name to all eternity. Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing, praise, and comfort, to which we say: Amen.