What Happens in Heaven When the Mourner's Kaddish Is Recited?

1. Reciting the Mourner's Kaddish is very beneficial to the soul of the deceased and elevates the soul to the Garden of Eden. Tractate Kallah states: "When a son says 'yitgadal v'yitkadash,' the deceased is released from punishment."

2. The soul is eternal. Even after it leaves the body, it continues to live. In the upper worlds, the soul ascends from level to level according to one's deeds in this world. Even after a relative's death, we can have an impact on his soul by performing mitzvot and learning Torah on his behalf. Reciting the Mourner's Kaddish and studying Mishnayot on behalf of the deceased are especially important and potent.

3. The Mourner's Kaddish is recited at the funeral, at the gravesite, and during the prayer service throughout the year of mourning. Traditionally, the Mourner's Kaddish is recited for 11 months after a person's passing and on his yahrtzeit (anniversary of death) every year. 

4. The Arizal (Sha'ar Hakavanot) explains that each time Kaddish is recited, the deceased rises from one level to the next. In his words: "The purpose of reciting kaddish is not just to save the soul of the deceased from the judgment of Gehinom as most people think, but it has another great benefit – to bring the soul into Gan Eden and elevate it from level to level, which is why it should be recited on Shabbat and holidays as well."

5. Rabbeinu Bachya explains the verse "Atone for Your people Israel" as follows: "The Pesikta interprets that these are the living who achieve atonement through their wealth (through the charity they give). 'Whom You have redeemed' refers to the deceased who achieve atonement through the wealth of the living (through the charity given by the living on their behalf). From this, we learn that charitable gifts made by the living for the deceased benefit the deceased. And even more so if a son dedicates charity for his father, it is a merit for his father."

6. In Eliyahu Zuta, at the end of chapter 17, there is a chilling story about the power of saying Kaddish: "Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai said: 'Once I was walking along a path and found a man gathering wood. I spoke to him, but he did not respond. Later he came to me and said: 'Rabbi! I am dead, not alive.'

"I asked him: 'If you are dead, why do you need this wood?' He replied: 'Rabbi! Listen to what I tell you. When I was alive, my friend and I engaged in a sin in my palace. When we came here, we were sentenced to burning. When I gather wood, they burn my friend, and when he gathers wood, they burn me.'

"I asked him: 'How long will your punishment last?' He said: 'When I came here, I left my wife pregnant, and I know she is carrying a boy. Please watch over him from the time he is born until he is five years old, then take him to the rabbi's house to learn, because when he says 'Bless Hashem who is blessed,' they will raise me from the judgment of Gehinom.'"

This story demonstrates the power of a child reciting the words 'Bless Hashem who is blessed,' as this is the only way his father will be elevated from the judgment of Gehinom.

7. The book Zachor L'Avraham states: "The book 'Vayakhel Moshe' records a terrible story about a certain spirit, who wrote that there is nothing more capable of protecting a deceased person from harmful forces than saying Kaddish after Psalms, and therefore sons should recite Psalms for their parents during the year [of mourning], followed by Kaddish... There is no greater honor for deceased parents than saying Kaddish."

8. A wonderful story about the importance of saying Kaddish is cited in the book "Tuvcha Yabi'u": There was a mashgiach (kosher supervisor) at a guest house in Moshav Shoresh in the Jerusalem hills who organized a minyan for Minchah prayers every day. One day, they were missing the tenth man. The mashgiach went outside and met a farmer who lived in the area.

When the mashgiach invited the farmer to join the minyan, the man didn't know what a minyan was. After the mashgiach explained the importance of the mitzvah, he agreed to enter the synagogue. After Kaddish was recited, before the congregation began to pray, a religious young man entered the synagogue. Since they now had a quorum of ten men, even without the farmer, the farmer left and went home.

Almost ten years passed. The mashgiach had long since left the guest house and moved to Bnei Brak. One night, he saw the farmer who had joined the minyan in his dream, his face radiant. "I left the world about a month ago," the farmer told him, "and you have no idea what reward I received in heaven for agreeing to complete your minyan."

The deceased man added that because of the mitzvah he performed, he was given the opportunity to appear in a dream and ask the mashgiach to go to his only son, who lived in Jerusalem, and was not observant, and convince him to say Kaddish for him. He gave the man the exact address of his son, and the mashgiach went to the son and managed to convince him to say Kaddish for his father.

It's pretty incredible. What did that farmer from Moshav Shoresh do? He merely expressed a willingness to join a minyan. That's all. Nothing more. And look at the reward he received. He was even permitted to appear in a dream after his death. This story demonstrates that every small step we take is worth so much. 

9. Rabbi Gamliel Rabinowitz notes that the recitation of the Mourner's Kaddish on behalf of a parent is potent: "Today, in our generation, people seek many segulot (spiritual remedies), so why give up on this powerful segulah that's rooted in the words of our holy sages? The tremendous and powerful force of answering 'amen' and 'amen yehei shmei rabba' is known to all. It can nullify many harsh decrees and bring abundant blessings and success.