Chapter 26: 16-18
The Mourners Kaddish
16. A person who is mourning the loss of both his father and mother has no
greater right to lead the congregation in prayer or recite Kaddish than any
other mourner. One memorial is sufficient for both.
17. Our Sages taught: "The judgement of the wicked is no longer than twelve
months." Thus, in order not to make one's parents appear wicked. it is
customary to recite Kaddish for only eleven months.
Thus, should a person die on the tenth of Shevat, his son should stop
reciting Kaddish on the ninth of Teves. He should not recite Kaddish on the
tenth of Teves, for that is already the first day of the twelfth month, and
even one day of a month is considered to be an entire month. Thus, it would
be considered as if he recited Kaddish for twelve months.
In this regard, one counts from the day of the burial and not from the day
of the person's passing. For example, if one was buried on the eleventh of
Shevat, his son should stop reciting Kaddish on the tenth of Teves, since
the heavenly judgement does not begin until burial. During a leap year, the
son should stop reciting Kaddish on the ninth (or tenth of buried a day
later) of Kislev.
On the day he ceases reciting Kaddish, he is entitled to recite all the
Kaddishim. However, a person commemorating a yahrzeit, and, similarly, a
person observing the thirty days of mourning are present in the synagogue,
this person may not be given any Kaddishim.
When a person knows that either his father or mother are among the wicked
who will be judged for twelve months, it is fitting, and he is obligated,
to recite Kaddish for twelve months.*
* {This practice is not accepted by all halachic authorities.}
18. When there are, heaven forbid, many mourners present, it is customary
in many places to allow two or three people to recite Kaddish together to
prevent discord and quarrels from rising.*
* {At present, this principle has been further expanded and it is customary
in most congregations for all mourners to recite all the Kaddishim in unison.}
