Mourner’s Kaddish Prayer Shoulders More Weight In Days After Synagogue Shooting

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Photo: Tree of Life Synagogue Memorial - AP
A painted rock found Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, part of a makeshift memorial outside the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, to the 11 people killed during worship services Saturday Oct. 27, 2018.

The largest attack on Jews in U.S. history last week in Pittsburgh has given extra meaning to a Jewish prayer regularly recited at Shabbat services.

"Yisgadal v'yiskadash sh'mei rabbaw." Or, "Magnified and sanctified be Your name."

The Mourner's Kaddish has been uttered more than usual this week. It even topped the front page of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday.

One of the many congregations across the nation reciting the prayer for the dead is Rodef Shalom synagogue in Denver. Rabbi Rachel Kobrin talked to Colorado Matters about the history and importance of the Kaddish.