- Habit: Eliezer, despite losing his faith, may have still clung to some ingrained behaviors and rituals from his religious upbringing. Reciting the Kaddish could have been an automatic response or habit instilled in him since childhood, even though he no longer fully believed in the religious significance of the prayer.
- Respect for Tradition: Despite his personal doubts and conflicts, Eliezer may have felt a sense of reverence and respect for Jewish traditions and customs. Reciting the Kaddish could have been his way of honoring his father and the Jewish heritage he grew up with, regardless of his current state of belief.
- Emotional Release: The Kaddish is traditionally recited as a prayer of mourning and remembrance for the deceased. In Eliezer's case, reciting the Kaddish may have provided him with an emotional outlet and a sense of closure after the traumatic experiences he endured in the concentration camps. It could have allowed him to express his grief and pay tribute to his lost loved ones.
- Internal Conflict: Eliezer's internal struggles with faith, guilt, and survival could have led him to recite the Kaddish as an act of self-reflection and questioning. It might have been a way for him to confront his own beliefs and to search for meaning and answers amidst the chaos and suffering he experienced.
These reasons are not mutually exclusive, and a combination of factors could have contributed to Eliezer's decision to recite the Kaddish. In the context of the book, the act of reciting the Kaddish symbolizes Eliezer's complex relationship with his faith, his personal experiences, and the search for meaning in the face of adversity and loss.