Is There Any Point in Kaddish for a Non-Jewish Father?

Peace and blessing.

There is no obligation to say Kaddish for him, but it is possible, and it may help him.

Here are the words of the gaon Rav Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory:

Responsum: Yechaveh Da'at, Part 6, Siman 60

Question from a righteous convert: Is he permitted to pray for his non-Jewish father, who lies on his deathbed, that Hashem should send His word and heal him, and after his death may he say Kaddish for the elevation of his soul?

Answer: ...It appears that after the death of the convert's father, and likewise after the death of his mother, it is proper that he say Kaddish for them for the elevation of their souls, for Tosafot wrote in Sotah (10b) regarding David's prayer for his son Avshalom, to save him from the judgment of Gehinnom and bring him into the life of the World to Come, that what the Gemara says in Sanhedrin (104a), a son can bring merit to a father, but a father cannot bring merit to a son, as it is said, and none can deliver from My hand, appears to apply without prayer; that is, they do not refrain from punishing the son because of the honor of his father, who is righteous, just as they said there that Avraham does not save Yishmael, etc. But the prayer of the father certainly saves him from Gehinnom and brings him into Gan Eden. End of quote.

And likewise here, even though the convert is not considered related to his father, for a convert who converts is like a newborn child, nonetheless, since he fathered him and brought him to the life of this world, and caused him to merit attaching himself to the portion of Hashem and recognizing the truth, it is fitting for him to pray on his behalf to save him from the pit of destruction and bring him into the World to Come. This is no less than a stranger who is not a relative of the deceased, for whom Kaddish said for the elevation of the deceased's soul has benefit, as written in Responsa Maharik (root 44).

And it is true that I saw in Sefer Chasidim (siman 590) that he wrote that a convert who pleads for his father and mother will not be able to lighten their judgment. And in the glosses of Mikor Chesed there, the Rema it is written that the reason is because the son is not related to them, for a convert who converts is like a newborn child. It appears that the intention is that it is not as effective as a son, but in any case there is benefit in his prayer and in the Kaddish he says, no less than a stranger who is neither a relative nor an intimate. And as Sefer Chasidim wrote there (at the beginning of siman 590), that a gentile who did kindnesses for Jews may ask the Holy One, blessed be He, and pray for him that He lighten his judgment. And so it is said in the Jerusalem Talmud (Megillah, chapter 3, halacha 7): Rabbi Yochanan said that one must also say, And Charvona is remembered for good, because he spoke about Haman. And in our case there is no greater kindness than this, that he brought him into this world so that he should merit life in the World to Come. And certainly it is proper and fitting that he say Kaddish for him.

And now I have seen the gaon Rabbi Aharon Walkin in Responsa Zeken Aharon, Part 2 (siman 87), who was asked about this matter, and he too inclined to say that he may say Kaddish for the elevation of his non-Jewish father's soul, except that there is no obligation to do so. He then went on to consider that it appears strange to many, especially since we do not know the secret of the elevation of the soul through Kaddish, etc. End of quote. But according to us, since everyone says Kaddish together, and it does not infringe on the rights of others, it seems clear to me that a righteous convert should not be prevented from saying HaShkavah and Kaddish and from praying for the elevation of his father's soul. And may Hashem not withhold good from those who walk in integrity.

In summary: A righteous convert may pray for his non-Jewish father's healing during his illness. He may also say Kaddish for him after his death, for the elevation of his soul. The same applies to the mother of a righteous convert.

With blessing,

Benjamin Shmueli