THE RABBIS’ KADDISH The Kaddish had its origin not in the synagogue but in the house of study. It grew out of the custom, still widely practiced, of ending each discourse or sermon with the hope that we may speedily see the coming of the Messianic Age when the sovereignty of God will be recognized by all the dwellers on earth. It is written mainly in Aramaic, the language most widely spoken by Jews in the first centuries of the Common Era. The sages attached deep significance to the congregational response, “May His great name be blessed…” Whenever Jews enter a synagogue or house of study and say: “May His great name be blessed,” the Holy One, blessed be He, nods His head and says, “Happy is the King who is thus praised in His house.” (Berakhot 3a)