How are we supposed to pray? One of the most stark contrasts between Judaism and Christianity that I've noticed is the style of prayer. With Judaism, prayer seems more prescribed. The Prayer book, the siddur, has prayers for most everything and an order. With Evangelical Christianity, prayer is much more improvised and personal. If a Jew is asked to lead the Congregation in prayer, most likely they have been called to lead a specific section and specific prayer from the prayer book, such as a prayer over the Shabbat candles or the wine. Often times Jews are reciting prayers that we have memorized. If a Christian is leading a prayer they will most likely speak spontaneous.
There are many prayers in Judaism that every Jew is taught and one prayer in Christianity that every Christian learns. What I was surprised to realize rather recently, at my father's shiva service in my home with both Jews and Christians, is that the one Christian prayer is essentially the same as the most essential Jewish prayer, even though the words are completely different.
The Jewish "Kaddish," also known as "The Morner's Prayer," is a central Jewish prayer, recited in various contexts. The Kaddish is recited during all traditional Jewish prayer services: morning (Shacharit), afternoon (Minchah), and evening (Maariv). It is included daily, on Shabbat, holidays, and fast days, provided there is a quorum (minyan) of 10 Jewish adults present. Additionally, it is recited at funerals, during the mourning period, on the annual Yahrzeit (death anniversary), and at Yizkor memorial services.
The word Kaddish is from the word Kadosh which means Holy. Interestingly, the Morner's Prayer does not mention death. Another ironic aspect is that the Kaddish sanctifies and praises the Lord's Holy name, without actually saying His name.
The Kaddish begins:
Yitgadal Ve-Yitkadash Shemei Rabbah. This is often translated into English as “Magnified and sanctified be His great name.”
At my father’s Shiva service at my home, my temple Rabbi explained to Christian friends attending that the best way to understand the Kaddish is to compare it to the prayer Yeshua (Jesus) gave his early followers in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke -- The Lord's Prayer. It begins.
"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Both the Kaddish and the Lord's prayer call for the Lord to bring His Kingdom to earth. The Kaddish says:
"May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen."
The Lord's Prayer says:
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
Both the Kaddish and the Lord's Prayer ask for peace. The Kaddish says:
"May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen"
The Lord's prayer says:
"Give us this day our daily bread."
The manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16) and the prayer for "daily bread" (Matthew 6:11) reflect God's faithful provision, fostering trust and inner peace.
The Kaddish Joins Jews Together
Through the Kaddish, the personal grief of Jews in a family, a community, a nation and even around the world are spiritually linked together. Similarly, when Christians say the Lord's Prayer they are joined.
We are all One when we praise God's Holyness together. It is by coming together that we bring down God and recieve His Kingdom. Till then, the most we can hope for is Shalom Shalom, Perfect Peace.
Both prayers acknowledge that it is God's will that will be done and both prayers recognize upper and lower realms:
Lord's Prayer: They kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
Kaddish: He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for...
Both prayers glorify God:
Lord's Prayer: Hallowed be Thy Name.
Kaddish: Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name
The Kaddish In English
Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will.
May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity. Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
AMEN
Which prayer do you think was put into practice first? You might assume that the Kaddish predates the Lord's Prayer. Did Yeshua Inspire the Kaddish?
The first recorded use of the Christian Lord's Prayer is found in the Gospels of Matthew (6:9-13) and Luke (11:2-4), where Jesus teaches it directly to His disciples. These accounts are believed to have been written between 70-90 CE.
This may surprise some. The earliest readily-identifiable text of Kaddish appears in the siddur of Rav Abram Gaon 860c. Rashi (11th century) and Maimonides (12th century) knew slightly different versions. The Kaddish was not set in Jewish law (halacha) until the 16th century.
The Lord's Prayer Predates the Kaddish by almost 800 years!
The Lord Warns the People
Ezekiel 3:17 -- "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me."
Moses warned the people multiple times at the end of the Torah in D’varim, the Book of Deuteronomy, about the future the Jewish people would face:
Choice Between Life and Death: He set before them a choice—obedience brings life and blessings, while disobedience leads to death and curses (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).
The Song of Witness: Moses writes a song (Deuteronomy 32) as a testimony against Israel when they inevitably break the covenant.
Final Charge: He urges the Children of Israel to take his words seriously. (Deuteronomy 32:45-47)
Look Up!
If you knew the Lord was going to prepare the earth for His Kingdom, how would you get ready? Jewish Sages said, “Repent one day before you die.” And what should you do if you don’t know which day that will be? Repent today.
It's not too late, until it's too late. God gave the evil people of Nineveh forty day's notice. They didn't wait one day.
Jonah 3:6-10
When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
My Conclusion:
Psalm 50:15: "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you"
If there is one thing that the prophet Jonah should teach us, it is this: Do not wait to repent! Do not cling to our idols, foley and lying vanities. Otherwise, we may foresake our own mercy. Then, the people of Nineveh may stand in judgment of us.
Isaiah 58:1 -- "Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."
Do you hear the Lord calling? Do you hear our Father saying "Come?"
Read Zephaniah 1:14-18 and pray the Lord's Prayer or pray the Kaddish.
AMEN, AMEN
