Ashkenazi nussach ends the weekday shacharit service with two kaddish yatoms: one after "Aleinu" and another after the psalm for the day (and seasonal insertions if applicable). Ismar Elbogen's Jewish Liturgy: A Comprehensive History is silent on it. Why is this done? Specifically, why is kaddish yatom said twice?
asked May 12, 2011 at 1:01
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1 Answer
Aruch HaShulchan 55:4 says that the reason there are 2 Kaddish Yasoms at the end of Shacharis is due to the many Yesomim. (I would presume that only one person said each Kaddish, and this way more Yesomim were able to say a Kaddish at the Tefila).
DoubleAA added in a comment: Recall at the time there were only 2-3 Kaddishes available for mourners per day (after Alenu at Shacharit and Arvit, and in some communities one before Pesukei DiZimra), so allowing one more per day would have a big effect (33%-50% increase).
answered Jan 21, 2014 at 15:13
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Interesting, thanks. But Aruch HaShulchan caps it at two, rather than, say, adding as many as are needed? Jan 21, 2014 at 15:24
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1@MonicaCellio Recall at the time there were only 2-3 Kaddishes available for mourners per day (after Alenu at Shacharit and Arvit, and in some communities one before Pesukei DiZimra), so allowing one more per day would have a big effect (33%-50% increase). Back then if there were 10 mourners in a city (remember lifespans were shorter and disease was more deadly), they'd each only be saying Kaddish once or twice a week, so an extra one per week is a big deal. (Puts some perspective on people nowadays who quibble over saying eg. 6 or 7 per day!)– Double AA ♦Jun 27, 2017 at 15:53
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@DoubleAA good point, especially when combined with one local shul as opposed to many like in cities today. Should we edit that into the answer, Gershon? Jun 27, 2017 at 15:58
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