I often get questions about different aspects of the choreography of the service. One of these recently was, “Cantor, I see that some people stand for kaddish in the shul and others don’t. Without going into the old joke that concludes – yes, that’s our tradition, I will try and answer the question. This is actually one that was discussed by the rabbi and me as we made some decisions for our new siddur.

The Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles, Poland, 1525-1572), in his glosses to the Shulchan Aruch (56, Halacha 1), writes that it is proper to stand during the recitation of Kaddish, and this is indeed the practice of the Ashkenazim, to remain standing throughout the entire recitation of every Kaddish. This ruling evolves from a comment in the Talmud Yerushalmi concerning the story recorded in Sefer Shoftim (chapter 3) of the judge Ehud Ben Gera. Ehud visited Eglon, king of Moav, and said to him, “I have for you a word from God” (Shoftim 3:20), at which point Eglon immediately rose from his chair. The Yerushalmi derives from this incident that it is proper to stand upon hearing the Name of God. Accordingly, the Ashkenazim make a point of standing during the recitation of Kaddish, when we give praise to the Name of God (“Yehei Shemei Rabba Mevarach…”).

Most Chassidic sects follow Ashkenazic tradition for this custom having come from Europe, even though in most cases their practice is much closer to Sephardic Jews.

The Arizal, however, followed a different practice, standing during Kaddish only if he had been standing previously. The custom of the Sepharadim, is to remain standing if one had been standing before Kaddish, and to remain seated if one had been sitting before Kaddish, as practiced by the Arizal. But, unlike the Ashkenazim, who remain standing throughout the entirety of Kaddish, Sepharadim stand (when they had been standing before Kaddish) only through the response of “Yehei Shemei Rabba…” (until “Da’amiran Be’alma”). (Halacha Berura, Helek 4, page 205)

The Rabbi and I have decided that in the new siddur, Tefilah L’Moshe the direction for Kaddish will follow the practice of the Arizal, which standardizes the practice as the majority of our congregation already follows. If we are already standing, we will remain standing for all of the Kaddish, if we have been sitting, we will remain seated.