Kaddish
Chapter 5
by
Rocky-Cat
Disclaimer: Logan, Professor X, the Beast, and any other X-men are Marvel characters and they retain all rights. I am simply borrowing them for a while. I do not stand to make any money from this story. All non-Marvel characters are my own creation.
Archive: At will, with proper attribution.
Author's note: I began this story while dealing with a painful personal loss. Within days of finishing I experienced another family loss. This is dedicated to someone whose presence will never have the chance to grace our world and another whose presence was a blessing to all who knew him. Perhaps the circle is complete.
A short glossary of terms found in this piece of fiction can be found at the end of the chapter.
Bright lights invaded his rest, goading him back to unwanted consciousness. Feeling a trace of unexpected moisture on his cheek Logan brusquely dashed the back of his hand across his face and reluctantly opened his eyes. Squinting into the glare he quickly recognized the familiar sights of the Medlab. Both Professor X and Henry McCoy sat near him, looking on. Logan managed a quick half-grin for Hank and was rewarded with a bright smile that lit up the all too serious blue-furred face.
Charles reached out his hand and rested it on Logan's knee in comradely sympathy. The warmth of his living hand and the comforting reassurance that extended towards him meant more than any spoken words ever could have.
"Thanks, Professor," he said simply, rising from his chair. He turned and stalked from the Medlab without another word.
Hank stared after the departing Wolverine and looked back questioningly at Charles, concern evident in his expression. Charles, although clearly sharing the doctor's trepidation, shook his head slowly in negation and turned to watch the retreating X-man. He remained there long after he heard the muffled roar of Wolverine's motorcycle fading into the distance.
* * * * *
Night was falling as Logan parked his motorcycle in front of a hydrant on the Brooklyn side street and glanced around him. The street and houses looked the same. Why shouldn't they? He had last been there only a few days ago but now it seemed like a lifetime ago. Another lifetime, to him and too many other people also.
He pulled the brim of his cap low over his eyes and strode purposefully toward the plain box-like building that he now knew to be a synagogue. It was early evening and the sky had just turned dark as a group of some twenty or thirty men milled about, waiting for prayers to start. Logan's unconventional appearance earned him more than a few quick glances and furtive stares but he could feel no hostility or menace from any in the group, only curiosity and casual interest, even though he was left by himself standing in the back of the room. You had to like a bunch of guys who knew when to keep their noses out of other people's business.
Soon one of the men moved to the front of the room and began chanting. The rest of the congregation joined in and, to his surprise, Logan found himself following along. The ancient Hebrew words flowed from him as if he had spoken them all his life. Without a prayer book he kept up with the service and, as the last prayer began, Logan gently and lovingly said good-bye to Chava, Heskel, Reb Gershon, and the life he once knew in Karsilevka as his gruff voice rose above the assembled worshippers.
"Yisgadal v'yiskadash, sh'mei rabbaw, b'almaw dee v'raw chir'usei v'yamlich malchusei. . . "
Glossary
bet din - court of religious law composed of three Rabbis who rule on religious matters
goyim - non-Jews, not necessarily a pejorative term
Kaddish - "Sanctification," the Jewish prayer for the dead recited by mourners, composed in Aramaic
mama'le - "little mother," a term of endearment used either to an actual maternal parent or a little girl
nu - untranslatable, generally used as a verbal prompt
Shabbos - the Sabbath, lasting from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night
shul - synagogue
Vilna - present-day Vilnius, Lithuania, a city once renowned as a great seat of Jewish learning
Yisgadal v'yiskadash, etc. - the beginning words of the Kaddish
The prayer translates as follows:
May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified in the world that He created as He willed. May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days, and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel, swiftly and soon. Now respond: Amen.
Amen. May His great Name be blessed forever and ever.
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, mighty, upraised, and lauded be the Name of the Holy One, Blessed is He beyond any blessing and song, praise and consolation that are uttered in the world. Now respond: Amen.
May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life, upon us and upon all Israel. Now respond: Amen.
He Who makes peace in His heights, may he make peace upon us, and upon all Israel. Now respond: Amen.*
* translation taken from The Complete ArtScroll Siddur, copyright 1984 Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
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