From the Rav’s Desk: Saying the Kaddish Derabanon before Hodu

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  1. Question: [Sunday, 17th Kisleiv, 5782]

May or should a Chazan who is a non-mourner recite the Kaddish before Hodu if there is no Avel in the room? Does this apply even if both his parents are still alive?

Answer:

Yes, even a Chazan whose parents are both alive may, and should, recite this Kaddish prior to Hodu if there are no mourners in Shul saying it.

Explanation: There is no issue with a non-mourner reciting Kaddish Derabanon, and doing so does not give any bad Mazal for his parents. Now, the Kaddish that is recited prior to Hodu is necessary in order to effect the elevations of the worlds during prayer. The prayer is considered like a ladder, and the Kaddish serves as a stepping stool to go from one world to the next, and hence the Kaddish before Hodu is an absolute necessity in order to affect the elevation. Accordingly, it is imperative that this Kaddish be recited by the Chazan before Hodu, if there is no Aveilim in Shul.

Sources: See regarding a non-Avel reciting kaddish Derabanon: Even Shoham 20, brought in Pischeiy Teshuvah 376:4; Poskim in Nitei Gavriel 52:7 footnote 10; Igros Kodesh 14:375 [printed in Shulchan Menachem 1:196] “Kaddish Derabanon, in general has no limitations, and anyone can say it. However, the person who raised the issue, it is bets to make sure that his parents are not Makpid”; Koveitz Hearos Ubiurim Gilyon 820:54; Chikrei Minhagim 1:30; See regarding the importance of saying the Kaddish before Hodu:  Arizal, brought in Shaareiy Teshuvah 51:2 and Kaf Hachaim 51:13; Igros Kodesh Rayatz 3:141 in length; Igros Kodesh 7:139 [printed in Shulchan Menachem 1: 216]

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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