Exalted and sanctified¹. One should be very careful to emphasize the letter gimel (ג) when saying the word “Yisgadal (יִתְגַּדַּל),” in order that it not be heard as “Yiskadal (יִתְקַּדַל),” from the word קְדָל which means neck.—Mishnah Berurah 56:2 be His great Name

footnotes: ¹ These opening words refer to the fulfillment of God’s prophecy, through Ezekiel (38:23) “And I will thus exalt Myself and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of the many nations, and they will know that I am Adonoy.”—Levush, Siddur HaGra

in the world which He created

according to His will

and may He rule His kingdom²

footnotes: ² May His sovereignty be revealed.

bring forth His redemption

and hasten the coming of His Mashiach.

In your lifetime and in your days,

and in the lifetime

of the entire House of Israel,

speedily and in the near future³—

footnotes: ³ We pray that the redemption will come speedily and that the process of the redemption itself will not be prolonged.—Siddur HaGra

and say Amein.

May His great Name be blessed

forever and for all eternity.⁴

footnotes: ⁴ This phrase, the heart of the Kaddish, is found almost verbatim in Daniel 2:20.

Blessed and praised,

glorified, and exalted and uplifted,

honored and elevated and extolled⁵

footnotes: ⁵ The ten expressions of praise in the Kaddish refer to the ten utterances by which God created the world. (See Maseches Avos 5:1.)

be the Name of the Holy One, blessed is He;

above (Ten Days of Penitence: far above)

all the blessings and hymns,⁶in the name of the Vilna Gaon 56:14.

footnotes: ⁶ May God be praised and exalted far beyond all the blessings, hymns and praises that are uttered.—Mishnah Berurah

praises and consolations⁷

footnotes: ⁷ Consolations are uttered because God is in mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temple and the exile of His people.

which we utter in the world—and say Amein.

Upon Israel, and upon our Sages,

and upon their disciples,

and upon all the disciples of their disciples,

and upon all those who engage in Torah study

in this land

and in every land.

May there be unto them and unto you

abundant peace, favor, kindness,

compassion, long life,

ample sustenance and redemption

from their Father

Who is in heaven and on earth,

—and say Amein.

May there be abundant peace from heaven

and a good life

for us and for all Israel,

—and say Amein.

He Who makes peace

(Ten Days of Penitence: the peace)

in His high heavens

may He, in His mercy, make peace

for us and for all Israel,

—and say Amein.