2017 | Onward Israel

Yemenite Custom for Eishet Chayil

This website presents an audio recording of the late Yemenite poet and singer Binyamin Nachum singing Eishet Chayil with the unique chanting style used in Yemenite custom. This recording is part of the

The Priestly Blessing

This informative article by the late Rabbi Louis Jacobs explains the origins, meaning, and practice of the Priestly Blessing in the synagogue service, which also is part of the blessing over the children

Blessing Oneself on Erev Shabbat

Based on the traditional blessing over the children, this alternative blessing by Rabbi Kami Knapp encourages people to bless themselves to emulate a positive trait of a chosen role model on Friday night. Although

Traditional Text for the Blessing Over the Children

This post provides the traditional Hebrew, transliterated and English text for the blessings over sons and daughters traditionally recited on Friday night. This resource is perfect for someone who simply wants to know what

The Barry Sisters: A Yiddish Swing Eishet Chayil

This video presents an upbeat, jazzy Yiddish version of Eishet Chayil performed by the Barry Sisters, popular American Klezmer and jazz entertainers from the 1940s-1970s. Originally known as the Bagelman Sisters, the Barry Sisters

Be Who You Are: An Alternative Blessing Over the Children

This excerpt from Marcia Falk‘s “The Book of Blessings” offers a contemporary, open-ended text for blessing one’s children on Friday night in a way that empowers them with a sense of possibility, is free

Let Us Bring Forth Food: Humanistic Ha-Motzi

This blessing for breaking bread, inspired by HaMotzi, meaning “the one who brings forth,” was composed by Machar: The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism. Typical of this movement, founded in 1963 by the

Alicia Jo Rabins: An Indie-Folk Retranslation of Eishet Chayil

In this video, Alicia Jo Rabins performs “Rubies,” a modern adaptation of Eishet Chayil, which she describes as a love song to the mother of the family that also makes a wonderful lullaby. Rabins

Ethiopian Shalom Aleichem

This video features Shalom Aleichem sung in both Hebrew and Ge’ez (an ancient Ethiopian language) to a melody that reflects Ethiopian musical influences. With images of the Ethiopian Jewish community in the background, this

Traditional Ashkenazi Shalom Aleichem with Lyrics

In this instructional video, Alicia Jo Rabins sings Shalom Aleichem slowly and clearly, using one of the most popular tunes, composed by Cantor Israel Goldfarb in 1918. Including a brief introduction to Shalom Aleichem and