Regardless of where they are, I lovingly give each of them a Shabbos bracha. This act of selfless giving, where the other person's needs (which may be just as important as our own) take priority, is the quality that Rachel and the other mothers of the Jewish people truly exemplified. It's truly the tie that binds us as a family, and our family to its Jewish heritage. THANK YOU SO MUCH AISH.COM Ephraim and Menashe were the first brothers among our forefathers to live without rivalry. In the Middle Ages, the customary blessing of children took place before Kol Nidrei (erev Yom Kippur) — the time when we are most aware of our mortality — a time reminiscent of Jacob’s deathbed blessings. Anonymous, It is not always easy to craft the perfect message in honor of a friend, co-worker or loved one who has passed away. As a special reward to Joseph, who remained righteous throughout his ordeal of exile, he calls forward Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Menashe, and gives them a special blessing, as well as two portions of the Land of Israel: Jacob's blessing was that they should be a blessing, an example to the Jewish people for all time. They are children of an Egyptian mother and a father who is one of the most powerful men in Egypt. Your Judaism. Yisa Adonai panav eilehcha v'yaseim l'cha shalom. December 1, 2004 12:00 AM. Then it struck me – why not over the phone? (22) I honestly don't know who enjoys it more, my giving it, or their receiving it. B. Yet there was something they all shared, something that Jewish women for all time would strive to emulate. Why did Jacob not bless his daughters before he died? May the divine light of God always shine on you wherever you may go. A women who is blessed with a daughter looks for ways to protect her. The Shabbat Blessing for a Daughter. It is customary to bless your children at the Shabbat table. I believe in the power of giving sons equal blessings. September 2, 2016 2:51 AM, children depend parents,their blessing is vital indeed with God's power, (17) Why does Jacob bless his younger grandson first? With love and daily prayers from South Africa, (16) We therefore give them the blessing to be like those who were not tempted by their immoral surroundings and maintained their ethical and righteous behavior. But my favorite part is when my grandchildren go to each of their parents to receive their blessing. I didn't raise my children in a traditional home environment, so it was pretty surprising – to put it mildly – that they grew to become observant. Each one possessed unique qualities that played essential roles in the strength and future of the nation. May God bless you and keep you. (14) They are fine young men and very close. Joseph brings his sons close to his father, with Manasseh (often spelled Menashe), the elder, first. Thanks Lori. This is my firstborn; put your right hand on his head.” But Jacob wants to put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Our two sons are coming home for Rosh Hasanah, and my husband always blesses them for the coming year. Jacob's blessing was that they should be a blessing, an example to the Jewish people for all time. God favoured me and gave me a precious gift, he gave me you, as you celebrate another year on earth, may good things continue to come your way, this new age shall be filled with blessings, happy birthday love… Hi, Is there a bracha for a son or daughter that is special for Rosh Hashana? I bless you with the fathers blessing. Joseph intervenes, “Not that way, Father! May 12, 2012 7:53 PM, Set The Jewish holiday Sukkot begins Friday and … They are not Jewish, but I printed out the blessing for a daughter if they desire to say them. Mike, (6) September 28, 2019 8:21 PM. 2. Sylvester Makaka, May the Holy One bless you and keep you. No matter what conflicts occurred during the week, at that moment the child cannot help but feel very special and very loved. When we bless our daughters on Friday night, we are asking God to endow them with the qualities of their foremothers, and we remind ourselves what real giving is all about. When the needs of others are our priority, our own sense of self is heightened immeasurably, and our relationships become worlds of giving, where love and self-esteem flourish. The story raises other questions. Don't Let Canada Become a World Leader in Administering Death, Israeli Eye Doctor Treating Thousands of Ethiopians, Remembering Jews who Fought for Black Civil Rights, Right Where You're Supposed to Be: This Really Happened, Honey, Dates and Olives, Oh My! Thank you so much for this website. We do not know much about these two young men. How will I give them a Shabbos bracha? B”H, 12 Teves, 5711, Brooklyn, Greetings and blessings, In response to your letter of 2 Teves which shares the news that, with good fortune, your daughter, Malka Yehudis, gave birth to a daughter in a good and auspicious hour.Behold I am sending my blessings of Mazel Tov! Your testimony is an inspiration. Larry Bigio, I am 61 years old. Your email address is kept private. This blessing is traditionally used every Friday evening by parents when blessing their children. August 3, 2005 12:00 AM. Jewish tradition calls for the washing of hands every morning, which serves as a reminder to use them for holy purposes. timely,necessary and insightful; thank you! Lighting the candles, saying Kiddush and other Shabbat dinner rituals. Following is a translation from Chabad.org's Shabbat Wizard: Thus the qualities exhibited by Ephraim and Menashe being united in their quest for the good of all, as well as possessing the strength of character to maintain Jewish values in a non-Jewish environment – became the benchmark for raising Jewish children even millennia later. We cannot always guarantee that our children will not be exposed to a negative environment. In addition, of the 12 sons and their families, these two were the only ones to grow to maturity outside of the Land of Israel. I am so sorry I didn't know about this years ago. OR May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe. Friday morning we call our younger daughter (now studying in Jerusalem), and I give her a bracha. Prayer for the souls in purgatory. Adapted from "Friday Night and Beyond" by Lori Palatnik. But then I found your article. She is the Founding Director of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, an international initiative that brings thousands of women to Israel each year from 18 different countries on highly subsidized programs to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage (www.jwrp.org). 12). : Yummy Recipes for Tu B'Shvat, Guardians of the Earth: A Tu B'Shvat Video, Home  »  They are both married. Reprinted with permission from The Torah: A Women’s Commentary, edited by Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Andrea L. Weiss (New York: URJ Press and Women of Reform Judaism, 2008). (11) aware of how important it is to be a By blessing our children to be like Ephraim and Menashe we seek to bestow upon our children the legacy of peace and harmony between brothers. I do it over my daughters n also over my two nephews. I can't believe how good it makes me feel. I felt in my heart to pronounce the blessing as if they were present, knowing that our God is Omnipresent, and by faith believing that He honors my intentions. For when we give to others who need us and help them to realize their potential, it fulfills our own needs and our own desires to grow. Copyright © 2002-2021 My Jewish Learning. Both the spoken word and the written word are important in giving the blessing. Another interpretation, by 19th-century Israeli Rabbi Shmuel Hominer, notes that Ephraim and Menashe grew up in Egypt, unlike the patriarchs who all grew up in Israel. Before them came Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, and, of course, Joseph's brothers who sold him as a slave – all relationships fraught with conflict and competition. Wow! How To Each time I learn more about these customs and practice I am drawn closer to Judaism. Decisions were not based on, What is good for me? good G-d fearing, giving and loving person. So simple, and we're … May God show you favor and be gracious to you. The blessing are the heart of a Jewish wedding. May 19, 2006 12:00 AM, I so much love this message on the blessing of our kids and children. This Friday night practice is taken from the priestly blessing. Great information. My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help, Commentary on Parashat Vayechi, Genesis 47:28 - 50:26. But in my desire to have God's blessing upon my family, I do so. May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. From that day forward, they would become role models for Jewish children everywhere, as they represented qualities to emulate eternally. And what about our daughters? We wouldn't miss it for the world. A few months ago I started sneaking the blessing to him when everyone got up to wash. Jacob’s blessing of his grandsons has become over the centuries the blessing bestowed regularly upon boys; but what is it about Ephraim and Manasseh that merits our blessing our sons in their name? They are children born in the Diaspora, not only Egyptian but also Israelite-children living in two worlds. Just before Jacob died, he called all his sons for a final blessing. In recent centuries, the tradition expanded to include blessing the children every Shabbat evening and on the evening of holidays. We see this in our relationships today, whether it be with friends, family, or even in the workplace. November 29, 2010 6:29 PM. Hebrew: Table of Contents|Aleph-Bet|History of Hebrew Although Jews have adopted the languages of the countries in which they live, they have always tended to retain traditional forms of greetings and congratulations either in Hebrew or Yiddish and occasionally in Aramaic, and some of these forms of greetings are adaptations of biblical verses while others are taken from the liturgy. One example of this is the story of the sisters Rachel and Leah. Why then is the blessing different? Kiddush 2, No. It's your special moment with your child – use it as a way of connecting in your own personal way. No doubt that they will grow with fond memories of those Friday night blessings, truly the building blocks of self-esteem. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and bring you ads that might interest you. Receiving a blessing from one’s father was a high honor, and losing a blessing was tantamount to a curse. After these preliminary blessings are recited over the children, it is followed by the Priestly Blessing: יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ. Kate, I have been flooded with memories in the last months and weeks as we have journeyed together toward this day. As [name of child] begins to enjoy his/her new status among the Jewish people, may God grant us the wisdom to continue as his/her guides and counselors, Could it be because, like so many Jews through our history, they grew up in the Diaspora and still remained Jews? May God Bless you and keep you. She says, "God, I offer you a prayer for my daughter." December 1, 2004 12:00 AM. I am happy to have you as my daughter, you are a source of blessing to me, as you celebrate another year on earth, you shall have no reason to cry, happy birthday dear. That's what I did and the practice has continued to this day. So perhaps there is yet another way to interpret these blessings, one that accounts for changes we value in our contemporary world. Hi, I now continue to bless all of my grandchildren, in addition to all of my children, over the phone. Now it's an honor to do it, and my one-year-old son sits there as I place my hand on his head and give him his blessing. In the Midrash, his sons respond to this unstated fear with words that have become familiar to us: “Shema Yisrael (Listen, [Dad–whose name is] Israel! A magic, eternal moment of connection for parents and children. They all appreciate it and look forward to it. Answer: The book of Genesis emphasizes the blessing of a father to his sons. I wanted to know why to bless my son mentioning Ephraim and Manashe, and my daughter mentioning Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. It is a custom in many Jewish homes that parents bless their children on Friday night during the Shabbat ritual. It is now a cherished memory. Ephraim and Menashe were brothers who lived in harmony, for their life focus was the highest example of working for good for their community and people. 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