kaddishl

Alternative Spellings

kadishl, kaddish'l, kaddishel

Definitions

• A son who will say kaddish for a parent (literally, "little kaddish").

Example Sentences

• "You will be my kaddishl," said the dying woman to her son.

Languages of Origin

Textual Hebrew, Yiddish

Etymology

קדישל kádeshl 'son', from Heb קדיש kadesh 'prayer of mourning'

Who Uses This

Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education
Older: Jews who are middle-aged and older
Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

Regions

North America

Dictionaries

The New Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten and Lawrence Bush (New York, 2003[1968]).

Notes

Often used in a slightly derogatory manner because as the only son, he has an air of superiority. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/792507/jewish/You-Be-My-Kaddishl.htm is an example of a story about a kaddishl.