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I once attended a synagogue regularly where a particular congregant was infatuated with his dog. Upon the passing of the dog the congregant began to say kaddish. He was unclear of his reasons for saying kaddish but it was clear to those who knew him that he intended to say it in the honour of his dog.

Can others answer?

msh210
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bondonk
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    Is he saying the kaddish to sanctify God? – Double AA Feb 25 '14 at 23:25
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    @DoubleAA maybe if he is dyslexic – josh waxman Feb 26 '14 at 01:47
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    I wonder if he intends to say Kaddish for 11 months...or longer/shorter if he was a REALLY good dog? It seems to prompt a question "How long should I say Kaddish for my dog?" but I have a feeling it would be downvoted ruthlessly... – Gary Jan 03 '16 at 04:13

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Per Maariv quoting Chadrei Chadarim quoting Rabbi Shteinman Shlita there is no problem answering Amein if one says Kaddish on his dog.

"האם מותר לענות אחרי קדיש כזה (לכלב), אמן ואמן יהא שמיה רבא?", נשאל הגראי"ל על ידי תלמידיו, בעקבות פנייה של אדם שביקש להגיד קדיש על כלבו שנפטר - כך על פי אתר האינטרנט החרדי בחדרי חרדים.

הגראי"ל חייך והשיב: "הרי אם היה אומר קדיש בלא כל סיבה, ודאי שהיו עונים אחריו אמן, אם כן מדוע שטפשותו תגרע את המצב? מה אכפת לנו שהוא חושב על הכלב...אין בכך כלום".

Gershon Gold
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  • Why would you answer amen to a kaddish being said for no reason? – Y     e     z Feb 26 '14 at 04:36
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    @YEZ Is it being said to sanctify God? – Double AA Feb 26 '14 at 04:50
  • @DoubleAA Your implied argument makes sense, but is not implied by Rav Steinman's (apparent) words. He appears to be saying it really doesn't matter at all why you were saying it. All that matters for the answerer is that he is promoting God's name. – WAF Feb 26 '14 at 11:27
  • @DoubleAA What he said ^^^. בלא כל סיבה does not seem to indicate "to sanctify God" – Y     e     z Feb 26 '14 at 19:34
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    @YEZ Adderabba! Someone who isn't trying to sanctify God via saying kaddish is missing the point so badly that perhaps amen shouldn't be said. בלא כל סיבה there is referring to what prompts the person to want to sanctify God. – Double AA Feb 26 '14 at 19:36
  • @DoubleAA You had a private conversation with R' Shteinman or somehow extracted this from the above? – Y     e     z Feb 26 '14 at 19:45
  • @YEZ We were talking on the level of what his words "seem to indicate". – Double AA Feb 26 '14 at 19:47
  • @DoubleAA I understand that. What I don't understand is how the unqualified words "for no reason" seem to mean "for a lofty reason, but motivated by nothing." – Y     e     z Feb 26 '14 at 19:59
  • @YEZ תרי גווני reason. – Double AA Feb 26 '14 at 19:59
  • @gershongold This addresses answering. As far as saying it in the first place, I'm assuming you would apply a previous answer of yours, http://judaism.stackexchange.com/a/35326/4794, but maybe worth adding here. – Y     e     z Feb 26 '14 at 20:04