ISBN 10: 1-934527-37-8 ISBN 13: 978-1-934527-37-5 Copyright © 2010 Torah Aura Productions. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Torah Aura Productions • 4423 Fruitland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90058 (800) BE-Torah • (800) 238-6724 • (323) 585-7312 • fax (323) 585-0327 E-MAIL <misrad@torahaura.com> Visit the Torah Aura website at www.torahaura.com Manufactured in Malaysia.
Contents Saying the Shema at Bedtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Everyday Brakhot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Erev Shabbat Shalom Aleikhem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Shabbat Blessings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Birkat ha-Mazon (Blessing After Eating) . . . . . . 17 Havdalah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Affixing a Mezuzah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Rosh ha-Shanah Blessings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Sukkot Blessings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Hanukkah Brakhot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3o
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Saying the Shema at Bedtime Bedtime is one of the great parenting moments. It is a time of honesty and intimacy. It is a time of hugs and sharing. At the very end of the bedtime ritual (and you don’t need to change a thing up to this point) just add the saying of the Shema together as your final words together. It doesn’t even take any explanation. The Shema is the most famous Jewish prayer, yet it is not a prayer in the ordinary sense of the word. It is a declaration of faith, a “pledge of allegiance,” and an affirmation of Jewish identity. The Shema is a thread woven through one’s daily life, as well as through the history of the Jewish people. What can the words of the Shema mean to a child? On a very basic level, the Shema can provide both an anchor and a compass, a group identity and a direct line to The One Who Listens To Prayer. To the question, “Who am I?” the Shema answers, “You are part of Israel, the Jewish people.” To the query, “Who is God?” the response “Adonai is our God.” To the request, “Tell me about God,” the Shema tells us, “There is only one God.”
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. . Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai ehad. Barukh Shem k'vod Malkhuto l'olam va-ed. Listen, Israel, the Eternal is our God, the Eternal is the One and Only. Blessed is the name, that God's honored empire will last forever and always.
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Everyday Brakhot Parents are a child’s first and best teachers. Just think of all the knowledge and skills you have helped your child master: locomotion, language, table manners, social skills—not to mention a whole repertoire of shared songs, stories and family traditions. Yet if someone told you, “Okay, now it’s time for you to teach your child how to pray,” you would probably react with some level of defensiveness and not a little anxiety. “Who, me?” you might respond. “Isn’t that what the rabbi and religious school are supposed to do?” The answer most simply put, is “No!” Classrooms can be a good place to gain the language skills needed to use Hebrew as a basis for Jewish religious expression. But families are the only place to learn that saying blessings is one of the ways we celebrate being a Jewish family (it is part of how we spend important moments together) and that praying is something that will give meaning to your life. A blessing shared over a favorite family dish, warm from the oven, has a much more lasting impact than one recited over juice and cookies.
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The blessing said over bread or to begin a meal.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, ha-Motzi lehem min ha-aretz. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who brings forth bread from the earth. The blessing said over wine or grape juice.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, borei pri ha-gafen. Praised are You Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who creates the fruit of the vine.
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The Blessing for vegetables/fruit grown in the ground.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, borei pri ha-adamah. Praised are You Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who creates the fruit of the ground. The Blessing for vegetables/fruit grown on a tree.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, borei pri ha-etz. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who creates the fruit of the tree.
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The blessing said over food made from Grain but not bread.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, Borei minei m'zonot. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who creates all kinds of foods. The blessing said over special moments.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, She'he'heyanu v'kiy'manu, v'higi'anu la-zman ha-zeh. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who gives us life, keeps us going and helps us reach this moment in time. 9
Erev Shabbat
Shalom Aleikhem This song welcomes the Shabbat angels and brings Shabbat peace to our table. It is usually sung before the Shabbat blessings. PEACE to you, attending angels, angels who are high up From the Ruler, the Ruler of Rulers, the Holy One, Praised is God. COME to us in PEACE, attending angels, angels who are high up From the Ruler, the Ruler of Rulers, the Holy One, Praised is God. BLESS me with PEACE, attending angels, angels who are high up From the Ruler, the Ruler of Rulers, the Holy One, Praised is God. Take your leave in PEACE, attending angels, angels who are high up From the Ruler, the Ruler of Rulers, the Holy One, Praised is God.
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Shalom Aleikhem, malakhei ha-sharet, malakhei elyon mi-Melekh Malkhei ha-Melakhim, ha-Kadosh Barukh Hu. Bo’akhem l’shalom, malakhei ha-shalom, malakhei elyon mi-Melekh Malkhei ha-Melakhim, ha-Kadosh Barukh Hu. Barkhuni l’shalom, malakhei ha-shalom, malakhei elyon mi-Melekh Malkhei ha-Melakhim, ha-Kadosh Barukh Hu. Tzeit’khem l’shalom, malakhei ha-shalom, malakhei elyon mi-Melekh Malkhei ha-Melakhim, ha-Kadosh Barukh Hu.
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Erev Shabbat The blessing over Shabbat lights said upon lighting the Shabbat candles.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, asher kid'shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who makes us holy with the commandments, and commands us to kindle the Sabbath lights.
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The blessing over children. For boys
Y’sim’kha Elohim k’Efrayim v’kh’Menasheh. May God do for you like Ephraim and Manasseh. For girls
Y’simekh Elohim k’Sarah, Rivkah, Rahel v’Leah. May God do for you like Sarah, Rebekkah, Rachel and Leah.
For all children
Y’varekhekha Adonai v’yish’merekha. Ya’er Adonai panav eilekha vi-huneka. Yisa Adonai panav eilekha v’yasem l’kha shalom. May God bless you and guard you. May God turn the Divine Face to you. May God lift up the Divine Face and give you peace. 13
Erev Shabbat Kiddush Blessing said over over wine or grape juice.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, Borei pri ha-gafen. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who creates the fruit of the vine. The blessing over wine that sanctifies shabbat.
Praised are You, the Eternal our God, Ruler-of-the-Cosmos The One Who made us holy through the mitzvot and the One Who is pleased with us. And the One Who gave us the holy Shabbat with love and satisfaction as a remembrance of the work of creation. Because this is the first of the holy time remembering the Exodus from Egypt. Because You chose us and separated us from all other peoples (*For You have called to us and set us apart to serve You) and intentionally separated Shabbat with love as our inheritance. Praised are You, the Eternal, The One Who makes Shabbat HOLY.
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*) ( . Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitz'votav, v'ratzah vanu v'Shabbat kod'sho b'ahavah u'v'ratzon hin'hi'lanu, zikaron l'ma'asheh v'reishit. Ki hu yom t'hillah l'mikra'ei kodesh zekher li'tziyat mitzrayim. Ki vanu vaharta v'otanu kiddashta mi-kol ha-amim (*Ki eileinu karata v'otanu kiddashta la-avodatekha) v'Shabbat kodsh'kha b'ahavah u'v'ratzon hinhaltanu. Barukh Attah Adonai, Mikadesh ha-Shabbat
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Erev Shabbat The blessing over washing hands.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu al n'tilat yadayim. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who makes us holy with the commandments. and has commanded us on the washing of hands.
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ha-motzi—Blessing before eating bread said over the Shabbat hallah.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, ha-Motzi lehem min ha-aretz. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who brings forth bread from the earth.
Birkat ha-Mazon—Blessing After the Meal one line Version
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, ha-Zan et ha-kol. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who nourishes all.
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Erev Shabbat Birkat ha-Mazon— Blessing After the Meal First full paragraph
Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, the One Who sustains the whole Cosmos with goodness with graciousness and kindness and compassion. God give bread to all creatures. God’s kindness endures forever. Your great goodness has never failed us, don’t ever take food away for the sake of Your great Name because You are the God of nourishment and You sustain all and You are good to all and You provide nourishment to all You creatures that You created. Praised are You, the Eternal, the One Who nourishes all.
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Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam ha-Zan et ha-olam kulo b'tuvo b'hen b'hesed u'b'rahamim. Hu notein lehem l'khol basar, ki l'olam hasdo. U'v'tuvo ha-gadol tamid lo hasar lanu v'al yehsar lanu mazon l'olam va-ed ba-avoor shmo ha-gadol ki Hu El zan u'm'farnes la-kol u'metiv la-kol u'mekhin mazon l'khol b'riyotav asher bara. Barukh Attah Adonai, ha-Zan et ha-kol.
* Reconstructionist version.
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Havdalah
The blessing said over the Havdalah wine or juice.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, borei pri ha-gafen. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who creates the fruit of the vine.
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The blessing said over the spices.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, borei minei v'samim. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who creates all kinds of spices.
The blessing said over the candle.
Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, borei m’orei ha-esh. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who creates the lights of fire.
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Havdalah The blessing said to divide between the holiness of Shabbat and the rest of the week.
Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who divides between holy and ordinary between light and darkness, between Israel and other nations, between the seventh day and the six working days. Praised are You, Who divides between holy and ordinary.
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, , , . . Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, ha-Mavdil bein kodesh l’hol bein or l'hoshekh, bein Yisrael la'amim bein yom ha-shvi'i l'sheshet y'mei ha-ma'aseh. Barukh Attah Adonai, ha-Mavdil bein kodesh l’hol.
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Affixing a Mezuzah to the doorpost 1. A mezuzah should be nailed on the top one-third of the doorpost on your right as you enter a house or room. A mezuzah can be placed not only on the front doorpost, but also on the doorpost of every room, except for the bathroom. 2. The top of the mezuzah should lean about 60 degrees into the room. If the doorpost is too narrow to allow for the tilt, the mezuzah may be vertical. 3. Nail up the mezuzah. 4. Say the two blessing.
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The blessing said upon affixing a mezuzah.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, asher kid'shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu lik'bo'a mezuzah. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who makes us holy with the commandments and commands us to affix the mezuzah. Follow with the blessing over holy moments.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, She'he'heyanu v'kiy'manu, v'higi'anu la-zman ha-zeh. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who gives us life, keeps us going and helps us reach this moment in time. 25
Rosh ha-Shanah Brakhot said When eating the apples and honey.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, Borei pri ha-etz. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who creates the fruit of the tree.
. () Y'hi ratzon mil'fanekha Adonai Eloheinu ve'Elohei avoteinu (v'Imoteinu) she-t'hadesh aleinu shanah tovah u'm'tukah. May it be Your will, Adonai our God and God of our ancestorsthat You make this new year a good and sweet one for us. 26
said When lighting the festival candles
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, asher kid'shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel yom tov. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who makes us holy with the commandments and has commanded us to kindle the holiday lights. The brakhah said before hearing the shofar.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, asher kid'shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu li'shmo'a kol shofar. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who makes us holy with the commandments and has commanded us to hear the voice of the shofar. 27
Sukkot Brakhot said When sitting in the sukkah
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, asher kid'shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu le-shev basukkah. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who makes us holy with the commandments and has commanded us to dwell in the sukkah.
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The blessing said when shaking the lulav.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, asher kid'shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu al n'tilat lulav. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who makes us holy with the commandments and commands us on the lifting of the lulav. Follow with the blessing for holy moments.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, She'he'heyanu v'kiy'manu, v'higi'anu la-zman ha-zeh. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who gives us life, keeps us going and helps us reach this moment in time. 29
Hanukkah Brakhot When lighting the Hanukkah candles Recite the first two blessings on all eight nights of Hanukkah
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, asher kid'shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who makes us holy with the commandments and has commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights. 30
.
Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, She-asah nissim la'avoteinu ba-yamim ha-hem ba-z'man ha-zeh. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who made miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time. On the first night Follow with the she'he'heyanu.
. Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, She'he'heyanu v'kiy'manu, v'higi'anu la-zman ha-zeh. Praised are You, Eternal Our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who gives us life, keeps us going and helps us reach this moment in time. 31
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