Yahrzeit

Yahrzeit. Literally, year-time. In Jewish tradition, the anniversary, according to the lunar calendar, of the death of a parent, sibling, spouse. The time when a memorial candle is lit and the mourner's prayer, Kaddish, is recited. It is a year since the death of my father. A year since I posted 'A Progress Report', less than a year since 'A Phone Call'. I promised myself that, after a year, I would write about my father, but I find I cannot. Kaddish, written not in Hebrew but in Aramaic, originates as closing prayer for a Rabinnic discourse, a sermon comprised of commentary and exhortation. A version of Kaddish is said after study. This seems  appropriate. A prayer in the language of the academy. The coda to a lecture. The prayer said as a book is shut and the work of the scholar is concluded.