The Mystery of the Kaddish: Its Profound Influence on Judaism

#930
Title: The Mystery of the Kaddish: Its Profound Influence on Judaism
Author: Leon H. Charney & Saul Mayzlish
Publisher: Barricade Books
Year: 2006 (publication date for audiobook unknown)
236 pages
Narrated by George Guidall
5 hours, 13 minutes


Received as a free review copy from Audiobook Jukebox.

Guidall's narration is clear and pleasant to listen to. His phrasing makes complex sentences easy to follow. His Hebrew and Aramaic pronunciation is crisp and, so far as I can tell, accurate.

While I found this exploration of the Kaddish interesting, it was not primarily a book about the evolution of the Kaddish, nor did it appear to include a great deal of new information. What I take from the book is that not a lot is actually known about the Kaddish, or at least, not a lot is known that can be well-verified by interviewing a selection of people around the world. I was expecting a more scholarly exploration of the Kaddish’s origins, changes in text and function over time, and perhaps contemporary variations. While the historical and informational sections were indeed very interesting, they formed a disappointingly small portion of the book. This material might better have been presented as a long article.

A great deal of the book was anecdotes and suppositions, some related more directly to the Kaddish and others peripheral. Woven throughout were conversations and reflections that were not well-integrated into the overall structure of the book. At times I felt that I was reading a mystical religious exposition, not a fact-based history. A more descriptive title and a reorganization of the sections would clarify the book's genre and flow.

I didn't find the Hebrew, Aramaic, or cultural information difficult to follow. However, someone who is not Jewish might have a harder time understanding the narrative or points being made. In the print version this would be less pronounced, but as an audiobook this might be difficult to follow for someone without the linguistic and cultural context. It's probably best for a reader familiar with Judaism and Jewish prayer who is most interested in how the Kaddish's history may contribute to its personal and emotional relevance.