Shabbath Blessings

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Shabbat Blessings for Children

The traditional blessing for a son: May the Lord make you as Efraim and Menashe.

The traditional blessing for a daughter: May the Lord make you as Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah.

 

For a daughter:

Be as you may –

And be blessed

Wherever you may be.

 

For a son:

Be as you may –

And be blessed

Wherever you may be.

(''The Book of Blessings - New Jewish Prayers'', Marcia Falk, Beacon Press, Boston)

 

The Blessing of Shabbat from the "Kol Haneshama" Reconstructionist Prayer Book

Blessed are you G-d, our Lord, king of the universe who hallowed us with his commandments and desired us and has given us his holy Shabbat as an inheritance in remembrance of the work of creation: Since it is the first day of the holy festivals, a remembrance of the exodus of Egypt: Since you called us and you hallowed us with your service and you have given us your holy Shabbat as an inheritance with love and goodwill: Blessed are you G-d, He who sanctifies the Shabbat.

(The Reconstructionist Press, Pennsylvania, 1999)

 

For Relaxation of the Body and Serenity of the Soul/ A Blessing for Shabbat of the Palmach Kibbutzes - Tzova and Kfar HaHoresh

Bless the Shabbat

For relaxation for the body and serenity for the soul

That our eyes shall gaze at the beauty of the mountain

And our hearts to friendship

May it be a Shabbat of peace

And may there be blessings in our homes.

Shabbat Shalom!

 

Blessings Over the Candles:

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The Candle Lighting Blessing, Select Groups of the Immigrant Camps, Nir Rubin

And the Lord said, let there be light. And there was light.

And the Lord saw that the light was good and the Lord divided between the light and the darkness.

And the light that the Holy-One-Blessed-be-He created on the first day made it possible for a human being to see through it from one edge of the world to the other edge.

Since the Holy-One-Blessed-be-He watched the children of man and saw that their deeds are corrupt, he hid that light from them.

And the Lord created the small luminary to govern the night and the stars and the Lord placed them in the firmament of the heaven, to distinguish between lightness and darkness. And why must they be separated?

So that from that moment the soul of man would request to attain the great light that was set aside.

And where was that light laid away? In the hearts of humans.

And when they open their hearts to one another the light shall once again emanate from them.

And when we kindle the candles, we shall wish for a week of togetherness, attentiveness and benevolence.

Blessed are you G-d, our Lord, King of the universe, who commanded us to light the Shabbat candles.

 

The Blessing Over the Candles:

"Blessed are you G-d, our Lord, king of the universe, who sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Shabbat.

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Kiddush:

 

The Blessing of the Family

Prior to Kiddush or following it, it is customary for the father of the family to bless the children and sometimes - also his wife. This conveys the emphasis on family relations and the togetherness of the family on the day of Shabbat. It is also customary to sing the song of "A Woman of Valor" dedicated to the mother of the family.

 

Shabbat Blessings for Children

For sons: "You are more handsome than [other] men; charm is poured into your lips. Therefore, God blessed you forever". (Psalms 45,3)

Or:

"Rejoice, O youth, in your childhood, and let your heart bring you cheer in the days of your youth, and go in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes". (Ecclesiastes 11. 9)

For daughters: "Our sister, may you become thousands of myriads" (Genesis 24, 60)

 

Kiddush from Kfar Szold Kibbutz

We shall give grace for the vine and for the fruit of the vine and for the precious, good, and spacious land. 

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Prayers of Challah:

 

The Prayer of Challah from the Prayer Book:

Blessed are you G-d, our Lord the king of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

  

The Prayer of Challah from the Book of Blessings:

We shall Bless the eye of life

Who brings forth bread from the earth.

(''The Book of Blessings - New Jewish Prayers'', Marcia Falk, Beacon Press, Boston)

 

Then Will our Mouths be Filled with Laughter/Blessing over Challah from Kibbutz Mizra

Then,

Will our mouths be filled with laughter,

And our tongues with songs of joy.

We shall say the blessing over a slice of bread and over a grape,

The gift of man and earth,

May their taste last forever.

To life!