Kaddish

My friend, Avram Wagman, created this free translation of Kaddish into English that maintains the rhythm and much many of the same syllables in the original Aramaic. Read the bolded text aloud. Then Avram and I know what you think.

Yit'gadal v'yit'kadash sh'mei raba (Amein).
May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified (Amen.)

It is all and won’t be lost, the Holy Name.  (Amein)

b'al'ma di v'ra khir'utei
in the world that He created as He willed.

We all make Divine words of praise

v'yam'likh mal'khutei
May He give reign to His kingship

for here lead all true ways, 

b'chayeikhon uv'yomeikhon

in your lifetimes and in your days,

afar yet home we are going home

uv'chayei d'khol beit yis'ra'eil
and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel,

on our way to our home, Yisrael. 

ba'agala uviz'man kariv v'im'ru:
swiftly and soon. Now say:

Into our lives, come and never leave.  Blessed be You,

Amein. Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varakh
Amen. May His great Name be blessed

Amein.  We say the Name Oneness and we know

l'alam ul'al'mei al'maya

forever and ever.

of the world where we may all know Yah.

Yit'barakh v'yish'tabach v'yit'pa'ar
Blessed, praised, glorified,

Beyond a sigh, the reason why or reason’s “Why?”,

v'yit'romam v'yit'nasei

exalted, extolled,

magnify and glorify and sanctify,

v'yit'hadar v'yit'aleh v'yit'halal

mighty, upraised, and lauded

praise to the sky, praise low and high, 

sh'mei d'kud'sha
be the Name of the Holy One 

the Name of Holy Awe,

B'rikh hu.
Blessed is He.

WE BLESS YOU,

l'eila min kol bir'khata v'shirata
beyond any blessing and song,

Who gives law, breathes life into law, 

toosh'b'chatah v'nechematah,

praise and consolation

law filled with awe, holy law from which we don’t withdraw

da'ameeran b'al'mah, v'eemru:
that are uttered in the world. Now say 

but breathe deep into the soul, Blessed be You,

Amein
Amen

Amein.

Y'hei sh'lama raba min sh'maya
May there be abundant peace from Heaven

We pray, hush be silent, when all are here       

v'chayim aleinu v'al kol yis'ra'eil v'im'ru
and life upon us and upon all Israel. Now say:

and all are gone, may You bless all of Yisrael, Blessed be You,

Amein
Amen

Amein.

Oseh shalom bim'romav

He Who makes peace in His heights,

Oh, say, “Shalom” this is love, 

hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu
may He make peace upon us

And when we say, “Shalom,” we name You,

v'al kol Yis'ra'eil [v’al kol yoshvei teiveil] v'im'ru
and upon all Israel [and all the world]. Now say:

joined with all Yisrael, [Yisrael and all the world,] Blessed be You,

Amein
Amen

Amein.

English interpretation in boldface type © 2011 Alan Wagman <avramwagman@gmail.com>

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