Kaddish in the absence of a minyan

[lethargic_man]

Jewish communal prayer is traditionally recited in the presence of a minyan, a quorum of ten adults. When a minyan is not available, certain prayers—Kaddish, Bār’chu and Kedusha (along with reading from the Torah with blessings)—cannot be recited. Today’s custom is not to say anything here when there is no minyan present, but I was fascinated to discover the first ever siddur, the ninth-century Seder Rav Amrām, gives versions of each of these (with no explanation) for the solo davener. And the first one, at least, is fascinating, with an extended quotation from the literature of Merkavah mysticism.

I thought it might be nice (having previously googled for a translation of the first of these texts, and only been able to find bits of it) to make these texts available for small prayer groups, where not having a minyan is a real possibility; so they can use them as a study resource to fill the slightly awkward gap not being able to recite Kaddish or Bār’chu can leave, or to recite them in part or entirety.

So here's the first one for you; watch this space for further contributions. And please do let me now if you have found any mistakes, or would like to collaborate on this project.

Comments

[pseudomonas]

Your transliteration of "Sasganir" looks like it corresponds to something I'd render as "Sasnegir". Is this a standard name in the esoteric literature?

[lethargic_man]

Your transliteration of "Sasganir" looks like it corresponds to something I'd render as "Sasnegir".

Oops, well spotted. <corrects>

Is this a standard name in the esoteric literature?

Damfino: I just read the text, I'm not an expert in the esoteric literature! I only know it's from the esoteric literature by googling.

<digs out Windows 98 laptop> Right, the Encyclopaedia Judaica says the angels who turn up rarely in the aggadah include Zagzagael, which may or may not be a variant on the סגגסגא"ל I mentioned in a footnote. Wikipedia mentions this angels as among the Angels of Sanctification but not as a name of the Angels of the Presence. This page names Zagzagel as "the angel of the burning bush who gave advice to Moses (Exodus 3:2). Zagzagel advised and taught Moses, and was one of the three angels who escorted his soul to heaven. Zagzagel is believed to rule the fourth heaven. In his spare time, he also teaches other angels." (Spare time?)

I can't find any other reference to reasonable guesses for vocalising various variants of the name in the Encyclopaedia Judaica; none is also mentioned in Wikipedia's angels in Judaism category index.

[pseudomonas]

I find it odd that the name of an angel would lose the -el suffix, whatever other mutations it might undergo.

[pseudomonas]

(I would expect zagzagel → zazgael; this seems a common mutation in hebrew)

[lethargic_man]

Unless the version without it was the original one?

[pseudomonas]

oh, good point. In which case maybe I'd be looking for a loanword (esp since uncertainty over ס vs ז suggests a transliteration)

[lethargic_man]

It suggests German/English confusion to me, but that's no use here...