DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 558 KB)
How To Properly Bow During Kaddish

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 56:4; listen to audio for direct citation) lists four points during the Kaddish recitation at which the Chazan (one who leads the services) must bow. They are: when reciting "Yitgadal," which is the first word of Kaddish; then when reciting the word "Rabba" in the phrase "Yehei Shemei Rabba"; then when reciting "Berich Hu"; and lastly when reciting "Amen" in the phrase "Da'amrian Be'alma Ve'imru Amen."

Additionally, The Kaf Ha'chayim (by Rabbi Chayim Palachi, Rabbi of Izmir, Turkey, 19th century) cites from a number of Poskim that one should also bow when reciting the word "Yitbarach." Rabbi Mazuz, in his responsa "Ish Matzliach," codifies this ruling of the Kaf Ha'chayim, and this is indeed the procedure written in many of our Siddurim.

Thus, there are five points during the Kaddish recitation when one must bow:

1) The opening word "Yitgadal."
2) The word "Rabba" in the phrase "Yehei Shemei Rabba."
3) The word "Yitbarach."
4) The words "Berich Hu."
5) The word "Amen" in the phrase, "Da'amiran Be'alma Ve'imru Amen."

At times Chazanim are preoccupied as they recite Kaddish thinking about maintaining the proper speed or singing a melody, and as a result they forget to bow at these points in the Kaddish. One who serves as Chazan must therefore keep in mind this requirement as he recites the Kaddish.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Affixing Mezuzot in a Short-Term Rental
Wearing the Tefillin Shel Rosh Over a Toupee
The Definition of "Left-handed" for Purposes of Tefillin
Tefillin – Looking at the Tefillin Shel Rosh Before Placing It on the Head; When to Remove the Tefillin Shel Rosh From Its Bag; The Earliest Time for Tefillin
If a Person Mistakenly Removed His Tallit From its Bag Before the Tefillin
Does One Wear Tefillin Shel Yad if His Arm is in a Cast?
Must One Wear Specifically a Woolen Tallit Katan?
The Proper Position of a Mezuza on the Doorpost
The Beracha of Yoser Or – Touching the Tefillin, and Punctuating the Phrase, “Be’safa Berura U’bi’n’ima Kedusha”
The Leather Used for the Parchment Inside the Tefillin and the Tefillin Boxes
Elul - Wishing “Le’Shana Toba” in Written Correspondence, Checking Tefillin and Mezuzot
Speaking, Answering “Amen” and Gesturing While Putting On Tefillin
Using a Mirror to Check the Placement of One’s Tefillin
The Importance of the Misva of Tefillin
One Who Mistakenly Recited “Barech Alenu” in the Amida Instead of “Barechenu”
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found