And was that always the custom? In Aramaic?

What did that stem from?

Here is a quote from “Srugim”:
https://www.srugim.co.il/264024-%D7%9C%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%90%D7%AA-%D7%AA%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%93%D7%99%D7%A9-%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%9C%D7%A2%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%AA

Rabbi Professor Yoel Elitzur is calling to change the Kaddish prayer from Aramaic to Hebrew. In an article he published in the new volume (38) of the annual journal “Techumin,” published by the Tzomet Institute, Elitzur calls for restoring Kaddish, which in the past was written in Hebrew, to its original language.

In his article, Elitzur—researcher and lecturer in the fields of biblical geography, the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), the Hebrew language, and Semitic languages—mentions that at the funeral of one of the leaders of the State of Israel, his son stumbled while reciting the text of Kaddish and was unable to read it properly, and was criticized for it.

In his words: “Those who deserve a shake of the head are דווקא those who choose to recite their most exalted declaration of faith in a language that has long since almost completely died out. Kaddish speaks about increasing the honor of the Holy One, blessed be He, in the world and publicizing His kingship, first among our people and then in the entire world, so how can it be said in a cryptic language that only a few understand?”

According to him, the sources as well indicate that this is possible. Kaddish is known in full in Aramaic starting from the prayer books of Rav Amram and Rav Saadia Gaon. Rashi, the Tosafists, and other commentators explain that it is said in Aramaic because of the “unlearned masses, who do not understand the holy tongue well; therefore they established it in the language of translation, which everyone understood, for that was their language” (the wording of Tosafot).

Elitzur brings the source that Kaddish was originally instituted in Hebrew, from the midrash on the portion of Ha’azinu: “And from where do we know that regarding those who say, ‘May His great name be blessed,’ they answer after them, ‘forever and to all eternity’? As it is said: ‘Ascribe greatness to our God.'” And he proves that in a passage found in the Geniza as well, the wording is in Hebrew.

Rabbi Professor Elitzur argues that practically speaking, for commandment-observant Jews rooted in the tradition of generations that recited Kaddish in Aramaic, it will be difficult to change things in synagogues without disputes; but there are places where gradual change is possible, such as events and ceremonies like funerals and memorial gatherings.

Professor Elitzur calls for allowing those for whom Aramaic is foreign the option of reciting Kaddish in a Hebrew version, which they can read easily without mistakes, and whose content they will also understand.

It should be possible to reach an agreement that there would be two versions of every Kaddish in the prayer books… and the prayer leader or whoever is reciting the Kaddish would decide on his own which version to say, and that should be respected. That is how Jewish law ought to be.

Do I have to define my name and email every single time when I’m not on a Google page with my email? Why is it like that? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I check that box, but it still doesn’t work permanently. What’s the reason?