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I've noticed that there are varying minhagim among people whether to stand during Kaddish or not. Is there any actual halacha regarding this and whether it's required?

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I believe most Ashkenazic communities have everyone stand; many Sephardic ones have only those reciting it stand. I'd strongly assume it's about custom and not law at that point.

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It's interesting; most synagogues I've been to, many stand and some sit, though it might be that the Ashkenazim stand and the Sephardim sit. – TK Kocheran Aug 5 '11 at 14:38
@Shalom, IINM among S'faradim (or some of them), the whole congregation stands for certain instances of kadish — though I don't know which. – msh210♦ Aug 5 '11 at 15:31
In most Chasidic communities, usually only those reciting stand. – yoel Dec 1 '11 at 22:51
@MSH210 Sephardim only stand for Kadish when it is Friday night. – Hacham Gabriel Dec 25 '11 at 3:37
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The Mishna Brura OC 56 sk 8 implies that one cannot sit down during kaddish, but if he was sitting already then he may continue to do so. However, he says it is proper to be strict and stand up anyway. I note that the whole standing up discussion is limited to the part of kaddish until "da'amiran be'alma ve'imru amen".

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Of course, this ruling does not apply to the aged or infirm who have difficulty standing up and sitting down frequently. – Bruce James Dec 27 '12 at 19:33
@Bruce James, presumably they would be in the category of those who remain sitting. – Seth J Feb 10 at 4:46
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It is customary to stand during Kaddish both out of respect for the person or people reciting it and for the deceased.

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Ami Schreiber, welcome to Judaism.SE, and thanks very much for this answer! You could make it much more valuable by editing in a source that backs up your point. Also, please consider registering your account, to help you have access to more of the site's features. – Isaac Moses Dec 1 '11 at 23:25
+1, thank you for answering. Please visit us again soon. – Adam Mosheh Jul 22 '12 at 18:04

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