The Kaddish is recited daily in synagogue prayers but is most closely linked with death and loss. This connection to mourning is only centuries old, shaped by Jewish responses to disasters and one rabbi’s pivotal role in its spread.

Yom Kippur 2025 begins Wednesday evening, Oct. 1, and ends Thursday night, Oct. 2; here are the full fast times across Israel, along with a practical guide to laws, traditions and prayers observed on the holiest day of the Jewish year