Hi,
We have discussed the practice of blessing our children Friday night, but some also have the practice of blessing children at Havdalah, after Shabbat.
This practice appears in early Ashkenazic communities as well as in sources from the 17th-19th centuries. The Magen Avraham (559:1) cited Maharil as saying that one should not recite it when Saturday night is Tisha b'Av, and the practice also appears in the customs of the Chatam Sofer and in the siddur of Rav Yaakov Emden.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Showing posts with label Shabbat: Birkat haBanim [Blessing children]. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shabbat: Birkat haBanim [Blessing children]. Show all posts
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
When to bless our children
Hi,
At what point during the Friday night meal do we bless our children?
Customs vary, but R' Eliezer Papo, in his Pele Yoetz, made a good case for doing it after kiddush. He noted the Zohar's statement, "When one wishes to bless his friend or child, he must first bless Gd; if he does not bless Gd first then the blessing will not be upheld."
This idea is also reflected in the sages' criticism of Malki Tzedek for the order of his praise for Avraham and Gd in Bereishit 14:19-20.
Have a great day and Chag Sameach,
Mordechai
At what point during the Friday night meal do we bless our children?
Customs vary, but R' Eliezer Papo, in his Pele Yoetz, made a good case for doing it after kiddush. He noted the Zohar's statement, "When one wishes to bless his friend or child, he must first bless Gd; if he does not bless Gd first then the blessing will not be upheld."
This idea is also reflected in the sages' criticism of Malki Tzedek for the order of his praise for Avraham and Gd in Bereishit 14:19-20.
Have a great day and Chag Sameach,
Mordechai
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Blessing our children with Birkat Kohanim
Hi,
In addition to asking Gd to bless our children to be like our ancestors, we also invoke Birkat Kohanim, from Bamidbar 6:24-27. This is likely because the introduction and postscript to those passages identifies them as the way we should always be blessed.
There is some debate about having non-kohanim use this blessing, based on Ketuvot 24b. However, authorities (Bach and Maharsha, for example) do permit its use so long as one does not imitate the hand-formations of the kohanim.
For more on this, see commentaries to Shabbat 118b, in which R' Yosi - a non-kohen - seems to say that he would perform birkat hakohanim upon request.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
In addition to asking Gd to bless our children to be like our ancestors, we also invoke Birkat Kohanim, from Bamidbar 6:24-27. This is likely because the introduction and postscript to those passages identifies them as the way we should always be blessed.
There is some debate about having non-kohanim use this blessing, based on Ketuvot 24b. However, authorities (Bach and Maharsha, for example) do permit its use so long as one does not imitate the hand-formations of the kohanim.
For more on this, see commentaries to Shabbat 118b, in which R' Yosi - a non-kohen - seems to say that he would perform birkat hakohanim upon request.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Blessing by Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah
Hi,
Since at least the 19th century (see more on this here), some have blessed their daughters with language that differs from the blessing for sons. Commonly, we invoke Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah.
Explanations for this choice of models vary:
1. Ruth 4:11 includes a berachah to be like Rachel and Leah;
2. Sanhedrin 105b explained the blessing (Shoftim 5:24), "מנשים באהל תבורך - She should be blessed by the women of the tent," to refer to Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah.
3. We use this formula already in the mi shebeirach for people who are ill.
4. Like Ephraim and Menasheh, these women came from bad backgrounds and achieved greatness.
5. Rachel and Leah managed to build a home together despite their potential for rivalry; this is similar to our praise of Ephraim and Menasheh for their ability to avoid strife.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Since at least the 19th century (see more on this here), some have blessed their daughters with language that differs from the blessing for sons. Commonly, we invoke Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah.
Explanations for this choice of models vary:
1. Ruth 4:11 includes a berachah to be like Rachel and Leah;
2. Sanhedrin 105b explained the blessing (Shoftim 5:24), "מנשים באהל תבורך - She should be blessed by the women of the tent," to refer to Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah.
3. We use this formula already in the mi shebeirach for people who are ill.
4. Like Ephraim and Menasheh, these women came from bad backgrounds and achieved greatness.
5. Rachel and Leah managed to build a home together despite their potential for rivalry; this is similar to our praise of Ephraim and Menasheh for their ability to avoid strife.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Blessing by Ephraim and Menasheh
Hi,
We bless our sons with the language of, "Gd should make you like Ephraim and Menasheh." [Some use this language for their daughters as well.]
Among the reasons for choosing Ephraim and Menasheh:
1. Bereishit 48:20 promises that the Jews will bless people to be like Ephraim and Menasheh.
2. They grew up in exile and yet remained loyal to Judaism.
3. They achieved the level of their predecessors, the Shevatim [tribes]
4. They were the first brothers in the Torah to get along, despite their potential for rivalry.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
We bless our sons with the language of, "Gd should make you like Ephraim and Menasheh." [Some use this language for their daughters as well.]
Among the reasons for choosing Ephraim and Menasheh:
1. Bereishit 48:20 promises that the Jews will bless people to be like Ephraim and Menasheh.
2. They grew up in exile and yet remained loyal to Judaism.
3. They achieved the level of their predecessors, the Shevatim [tribes]
4. They were the first brothers in the Torah to get along, despite their potential for rivalry.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Requesting a blessing from our parents
Hi,
We have explained why there is special merit in receiving a blessing on Friday night; there is also special merit in approaching one’s parents for a blessing.
In part, this is a function of honoring one’s parents. Further, though, Midrash Zuta (Shir haShirim 1) says that Esav is rewarded for asking his father for a blessing (Bereishit 27:38), and we acquire the same merit when we ask our parents to bless us.
(Pele Yoetz)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
We have explained why there is special merit in receiving a blessing on Friday night; there is also special merit in approaching one’s parents for a blessing.
In part, this is a function of honoring one’s parents. Further, though, Midrash Zuta (Shir haShirim 1) says that Esav is rewarded for asking his father for a blessing (Bereishit 27:38), and we acquire the same merit when we ask our parents to bless us.
(Pele Yoetz)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Blessing our children on Friday night
Hi,
Today we begin a new topic: Blessing our children on Friday night.
A few reasons are offered for specifically blessing children at this time, including:
* Shabbat is a time of peace and happiness, when HaShem is most manifest on us, and therefore we are suited to Divine inspiration;
* Per Shabbat 119b, angels escort us to our home Friday night, and we want the angels to see us bless our children.
* We invoke the merit of Shabbat observance on behalf of our children.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Today we begin a new topic: Blessing our children on Friday night.
A few reasons are offered for specifically blessing children at this time, including:
* Shabbat is a time of peace and happiness, when HaShem is most manifest on us, and therefore we are suited to Divine inspiration;
* Per Shabbat 119b, angels escort us to our home Friday night, and we want the angels to see us bless our children.
* We invoke the merit of Shabbat observance on behalf of our children.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
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