friday night
How Eishet Chayil Shaped One Woman’s Evolving Jewish Identity
In this personal article, Sarah Zell Young shares how her religious journey is reflected in her evolving relationship with the words of Eishet Chayil. From her initial embracing of traditional observance,
Which Biblical Woman Was the Original Eishet Chayil?
This essay discusses some theories as to which biblical woman the poem, Eishet Chayil, could be referring. The author, Asher Gabbay, suggests that since the only woman in the Bible specifically
Complete Ashkenazi Grace After Meals (Hebrew Text)
The following Hebrew text presents the Ashkenazi custom for the Grace After Meals from Tefillos.com. This is useful resource for Ashkenazi Jews who read Hebrew fluently and simply looking for the text.
Reform Abbreviated Grace After Meals (Audio & Text)
This post includes an audio recording of an abbreviated version of the Grace After Meals, accompanied by the Hebrew, English, and and transliterated text. According to many opinions, this shortened version is
Gabriel Chouraki: Shalom Aleichem Melody on Violin
This video shows Gabriel Chouraki, a French-Israeli classical violinist, conductor, and Musician of Excellence in the Israeli Defense Forces, performing one of the most famous melodies of Shalom Aleichem, composed by
The Significance of the Shabbat Angels in Breslov Hassidic Thought
This excerpt from “7th Heaven: Shabbat With Rebbe Nachman of Breslov” explores the significance of angels in Jewish theology, focusing on the accompanying angels that visit the home each Shabbat. Moshe
Mordechai Ben David: Shalom Aleichem
This video presents an original tune for Shalom Aleichem, composed and performed by Mordechai Ben David, a popular American Hasidic singer and songwriter. Switching between an upbeat pace, slower, more soulful melodies,
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
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