Is it Permissible for Women to Recite Kaddish? And If So, Under What Circumstances?

Shalom and greetings.

A. In the responsa Chavat - Yair (siman 232), it is ruled that women are forbidden to recite Kaddish. Similarly, the Beit Lechem Yehudah (Yoreh Deah siman 365) cites the Sefer Hasidim, and halacha was decided in the Sefer Ba'er Heitev (Orach Chaim siman 133, se'if 5) in the name of the Knesset Yechezkel that women have no role in reciting Kaddish in any matter.

Some have the custom otherwise regarding this matter, and according to their opinion, it is possible for women to say Kaddish for the elevation of their parents’ souls when there are no sons, but only at home where there is a minyan present; they may recite Kaddish there, but not in the synagogue. This is the conclusion drawn in Sefer Shvut Yaakov (vol. 2, Yoreh Deah siman 123), and his words were brought in Sha'arei Teshuvah (Orach Chaim siman 133, se'if 5).

It is appropriate to bring here the words of the Rishon LeTziyon Rabbi Ben-Zion Uziel, of blessed memory (in his Sefer Mishpetei Uziel, Taneina siman 13, and his words are brought in Sefer Piskei Uziel siman 3), who adds insight on the matter; his words are as follows:

"It should not be imagined that this is because daughters do not merit their father. On the contrary, we find that they merit the entire people as mothers and prophetesses of Israel, whose merit and righteousness shall never be removed from among the people of Israel. And there is a great promise that Hashem gave to women, and through righteous women Israel was redeemed from Egypt. Rather, in such matters we have only what was transmitted from our forebears, according to which we walk in their light... Therefore, they do not say Kaddish in public. However, it is a mitzvah to honor their father by continuing acts of kindness and charity of their parents, and by increasing their own, until it will be said of them: "Happy is he who bore them, happy is he who raised them."

B. It is very desirable, and one should cover the bread during the recitation of kiddush.

With success - Menashe Israel