Kodish or Kadish (newspaper reports and US army documents show it with both spellings) is a small town in what was White Russia. It was the scene of several battles between the Bolsheviks and US forces (known as the Polar Bears) in December 1918. The name is now spelled Kodysh. The words Kaddish and Kodosh are also specific to Jewish liturgical heritage. Kaddish   A liturgical prayer, consisting of three or six verses, recited at specified points during each of the three daily services and on certain other occasions. Also called Mourner's Kaddish. the five-verse form of this prayer that is recited at specified points during each of the three daily services by one observing the mourning period of 11 months, beginning on the day of burial, for a deceased parent, sibling, child, or spouse, and by one observing the anniversary of such a death. Kaddishim, persons who recite this prayer. Kodosh The transliteration of the Hebrew word Holy. Our family is Jewish, and the names of the other families indicate Jewish origins. Whilst there have been family members who have 'married out' ie married non Jews our cultural identity remains strong.