Kaddish (Mourner’s Prayer) by Israeli artist Moshe Gershuni On View at the Jewish Museum October 11, 2023 through January 1, 2024

As an art museum dedicated to illuminating the complexity and vibrancy of Jewish culture, the Jewish Museum seeks to provide a space for respite, reflection, and community. In the Museum’s exhibition galleries, we bring forward the unique stories of resilience that have shaped Jewish experience across time and space. Connecting with these powerful, enduring histories has never been more urgent. We are open and our programming will continue as planned and we will be here for our members and for our visitors. We hope you will visit the Jewish Museum soon and take comfort in the beauty, solace, and hope that you can experience here.

These four prints are part of a series of eight works titled Kaddish (Mourner’s Prayer) by Israeli artist Moshe Gershuni. He titled each print with individual Aramaic/Hebrew words from the Kaddish: praised (yishtabah), glorified (yitpa’ar), exalted (yitromam), and lauded (yit’halal), which are epithets for God in the prayer. In Jewish tradition, the Kaddish (English translation, “Sanctification”) is recited by those mourning and remembering their loved ones. Poignantly, the overall tone of the prayer is elevating—a plea for peace. These works are now installed in our third floor galleries, in memory of the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Israel. The works are on view from October 11, 2023,  through January 1, 2024.