Recently, a tourist on one of my City of David tours asked me to explain the origins of Kaddish and why it is that the text focuses on life, peace, and the glory of G-d, if we say it when remember the deceased. Here is the answer I gave him: Origins of Kaddish Kaddish itself seems to be very ancient. The earliest mention of it is in the Gemara, by rabbis who lived during the time of the Second Temple, more than 2,000 years ago. However, there is reason to believe that it or