blessing
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
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
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
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.
The Secret Shabbat Blessing: A Blessing from the Heart
In this essay, Rabbi Leah Doberne-Schor shares why it is important for parents to go beyond the traditional text to bless their children with their own “secret Shabbat blessing,” based on
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
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
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
A Beginners’ Guide to Shabbat Candle Lighting: Article and Video
The following article, How to Light Shabbat Candles, by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, Richard Siegel and Sharon Strassfeld, discusses both the how to’s of the Shabbat candle lighting ceremony and the
Reconstructionist Thought on Candle Lighting
In this short excerpt from the essay “Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach,” Shabbat candle lighting is expounded on as an example of the importance of ritual within Reconstructionist Judaism. Reconstructionist Judaism