blessing children
Blessing the Children on Friday Night: Origins and How-To
This thorough introductory article by Tamar Fox outlines the origins and various family customs for the ritual blessing over the children, as well as the Hebrew and English text. The
Chief Rabbi of the UK on Blessing the Children on Shabbat
In this short video, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, explains why children are blessed on Shabbat and why the blessings differ for sons and
Personalizing the Blessing of the Children on Shabbat
This article shows how the ritual blessing over the children on Shabbat can be used as an opportunity to infuse spirituality and intention into the sometimes challenging and mundane experience
Alternative Blessing for Children with Masculine and Feminine God Language
This post presents the blessing for the children using both traditional male God-language as well as feminine God-language, reflecting a blend of Jewish tradition with modern feminist approaches. The two versions of the traditional
Reform: How to Recite the Blessing Over Children (Audio & Text)
This instructional post provides the Hebrew audio and the Hebrew, English and transliterated text of the blessing over the children according to the Reform tradition, which makes a slight modification to the
Michael Ben Naim’s Original Blessing Over the Children
This music video features Israeli artist, Michael Ben Naim, and a woman (presumably his wife) singing his original, emotive melody for the Hebrew blessing over their children. Whereas the blessing traditionally begins
Friday Night & Beyond: Insights on the Blessing Over the Children (Plus Text & Audio)
This thorough excerpt from “Friday Night and Beyond” by Lori Palatnik explains the biblical origins of the ritual blessing over the children on Friday night, as well as a practical how-to guide
A Multi-Generational Blessing Over the Children
This post describes the way in which one family includes all four generations present at their Shabbat table when performing the blessing over the children. Dale Schatz writes how each
Yehuda Katz Sings the Traditional Blessing for Daughters
In this video, American-Israeli singer Yehuda Katz performs the traditional Friday night blessing for daughters in Hebrew. In order to show respect for the sanctity of God’s name, the word “Hashem” (literally, ‘the name’) is
A Rabbi Blesses the Children of his Congregation
In this short recording, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue (Conservative) Synagogue in New York City blesses the children in his congregation with the blessing traditionally said by parents on Friday night.