[Avodah] Chasam Sofer Responds to Rav Yaakov Emden, Defends the Singular Ashkenazic Kaddish

[Ben Waxman]

Rav Henkin, in his tshevua on women saying kaddish, basically agrees with 
what you write: the kaddish is only as good as what comes before it. Someone 
who learns a daf and then says kaddish is one thing; someone who walks into 
shul when the shaliach tzibbur mumbles out "Rebbi Yishmael omer" and says 
kaddish is quite another.

However he mentions that by having people say kaddish, often people who 
didn't come to shul will continue even after the shana aveilut is over. So 
the benefit of getting people involved is what justifies the kaddish. And 
this benefit is relevant for men and women.

Ben
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Danny Schoemann" <doniels at gmail.com>
> As a whole, it's sad that Kaddish is the main focus to "elevate" the
> Neshomo. The Kitzur (26:22) says that - though Kaddish and Prayers
> help - the main point is for the children to be Halocho-abiding
> Yidden; this benefits the soul more than anything else.
>
> So by finding Halachic-loopholes to say Kaddish one may be doing more
> harm than good...