Women and Kaddish

What are the women’s extent of praying kadish

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

The recitation of Kaddish dates back to the era of the first Holy Temple. It is both a routine part of every service, recited multiple times each service, and a prayer designated for mourners to recite, primarily at the very conclusion of the service (after the Aleinu prayer).

As a side note, even better than reciting Kaddish for the deceased, is to lead the services. Kaddish became the alternative for the many people who were not competent in leading the services, so they would just recite the Kaddish instead.

The benefit for the deceased in the recitation of the Kaddish is that saying Kaddish allows the members of the congregation to answer “Amen” and the like, which serves to merit the soul of the deceased. So too, Kaddish is a prayer that publicly sanctifies G-d’s name, with that merit going to the soul of the deceased, as well.

Le'halacha it is not proper or necessary for a woman to recite the Kaddish, and historically it was never done.

If there are no sons to recite Kaddish for a deceased, one should hire someone to recite Kaddish for the deceased and this will serve to merit the soul of the deceased. So too, the Mateh Ephraim writes: “If a daughter wants to bring merit to her parents she should listen to Kaddish and answer amen with concentration and it will be as if she recited the Kaddish.” Finally, you should give charity and do mitzvot in honor of the deceased, especially supporting Torah study.

Aruch Hashulchan 55:3, Mishna Berura 132:10; Sefer Ha’agor 334.

Mateh Ephraim, Kaddish Yatom, 4:8