Kaddish at Concentration Camps

In the summer I'll be giving a tour of a former Nazi prison where many prisoners were executed. It's not a Jewish memorial (though a small minority of the victims murdered were Jewish), but should I put on a kippa when visiting the site? And if there is a minyan, can I say Kaddish there?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

Let us begin with the kippa issue.

According to Jewish law, a man’s head should be covered at all times. As you correctly note, even those who, for whatever reason, do not cover their head at all times should certainly do so in certain settings. There would be no inherent connection to wearing a kippa and visiting the site, but your desire to say some prayers there is very commendable, and when praying, one’s head must be covered.

Kaddish is a prayer that can be recited in various contexts, but it is most commonly associated with mourning rituals. The Mourner's Kaddish, specifically, is recited by mourners in memory of their deceased loved ones.

Here are some common occasions when the Mourner's Kaddish is recited:

1. During the mourning period (Shiva): Mourners typically recite the Mourner's Kaddish during the seven-day mourning period following the burial of a close relative (parent, spouse, sibling, or child). This is known as the Shiva period.

2. During the mourning year: In traditional Jewish practice, mourners recite the Mourner's Kaddish for eleven months following the death of a parent at services in the synagogue. This period is called "Sheloshim" and lasts for thirty days after the burial, but for a parent, the Mourner's Kaddish is extended to eleven months.

3. Yahrzeit: On the anniversary of a loved one's death (Yahrzeit), mourners often attend synagogue services and recite the Mourner's Kaddish in memory of the deceased.

4. Yizkor: The Mourner's Kaddish is recited during the Yizkor service, which is held on Yom Kippur and on the last days of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Yizkor is a special memorial service where prayers are said in memory of departed loved ones. The Kaddish should not be recited as a stand-alone prayer, but rather, at the conclusion of prayer or study. As such, if there is a minyan present, and you know there are Jewish remains in the area (or there is otherwise reason to have a Jewish ceremony of some sort), I recommend reciting some Psalms followed by the mourner’s Kaddish.