Replies

"Judaism teaches that we are to pray to God alone. We can pray for the dead, but we are prohibited to pray to the dead."

I'll get back to the argument about Mary, later. I wanted to ask you about this. First, wihtout doubt Judaism allows for (indeed, doesn't it command?) prayer for the dead. Isn't a practicing Jew supposed to do something called the Kaddish(sp) on Yom Kippur.

Now, about the praying to the dead. I read somewhere, just recently, of an ancient Jewish custom whereby during something called the Days of Awe(days which I believe fall between Yom Kippur and Rosh Hoshannah) Jews used to ask the dead to pray to God for them. Do you know anything about this?

Isn't a practicing Jew supposed to do something called the Kaddish(sp) on Yom Kippur.

Technically speaking, the Kaddish itself is not a prayer for the dead, but rather a prayer praising God. It is recited for the deceased in the eleven months after his death, and on the anniversary of his death thereafter.

The traditional prayer for the dead is El Malei Rachamim:

Exalted, compassionate God, grant perfect peace in Your sheltering Presence, among the holy and the pure who shine with the splendor of the firmament, to the soul of our dear ______ who has gone to his eternal home. Master of mercy, remember all his worthy deeds in the land of the living. May his soul be bound up in the bond of life. May his memory always inspire us to attain dignity and holiness in life. May he rest in peace. And let us say: Amen.

Certain of the psalms are also commonly said.

I read somewhere, just recently, of an ancient Jewish custom whereby during something called the Days of Awe(days which I believe fall between Yom Kippur and Rosh Hoshannah) Jews used to ask the dead to pray to God for them.

I've heard of superstitious practices involving such things. This is contrary to orthodox Jewish teaching, AFAIK.