beracha

Bread from the Earth: Food Justice Ceremony

Bread from the Earth: Food Justice Ceremony

This ceremony, meant to be performed before the blessing over the bread, encourages people to contemplate the source of their food, the process it went through to get onto the

Alternative Blessing for Children with Masculine and Feminine God Language

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)

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

Shabbat Blessings for Pets

Shabbat Blessings for Pets

This post presents blessings that animal-lovers can use for their pet dogs and cats on Shabbat in English and transliterated Hebrew. The blessings draw upon Jewish concepts associated with these animals.

General Blessing for Loved Ones

General Blessing for Loved Ones

This general blessing can be said for any friend or loved one at the Shabbat table or, in fact, at any time. All or parts of it may be used instead of

Blessing One’s Parents on Friday Night

Blessing One’s Parents on Friday Night

This ritual is for children of all ages who wish to “turn the tables” and bless their parents on Shabbat. It includes relevant meditations and biblical verses to ponder, a

Turn Your Home into a Temple with the Blessing Over the Children

Turn Your Home into a Temple with the Blessing Over the Children

This short article demonstrates how to say the Friday night blessing over the children in English, explaining that because this ritual includes the ancient priestly blessing once recited in the holy Temple

Shabbat Candles FAQ

Shabbat Candles FAQ

This article contains clear and detailed answers, according to an Orthodox Jewish perspective, to a number of  frequently asked questions about lighting Shabbat candles on Friday night, including who, when,

Shabbat Candle Lighting with Masculine and Feminine God-Language

Shabbat Candle Lighting with Masculine and Feminine God-Language

This post presents the blessing for lighting the Shabbat candles on Friday night, both in its traditional format (i.e. with masculine God-language) and using feminine God-language, an option that reflects

Young Girl Lights Her First Shabbat Candle

Young Girl Lights Her First Shabbat Candle

In this sweet seven-minute home video a young girl receives a silver Shabbat candlestick in a package in the mail from her grandparents just prior to her third birthday. According to the Hasidic