July | 2017 | Onward Israel

Avraham Fried: The Traditional Jewish Blessing for Sons

This video features Avraham Fried singing the blessing for sons in a large open-air amphitheater in Jerusalem, accompanied by a large male choir. In order to show respect for the sanctity of God’s name, the

Reform: How to Recite the Blessing Over Children (Audio & Text)

This instructional post provides the Hebrew audio and the Hebrew, English and transliterated text of the blessing over the children according to the Reform tradition, which makes a slight modification to the traditional Hebrew text

The Origins of Ritual Hand-Washing In Jewish Thought

In this excerpt, Chaviva Gordon-Bennett provides an overview of the origins and significance of the different Jewish hand washing rituals, including washing the hands before eating bread. With supporting texts from the Torah (Bible), Talmud, and

Why We Cover the Bread During HaMotzi

This article from Chabad.org provides biblical, Talmudic and halachic reasons for the custom of covering the challah before and during the HaMotzi blessing. In practice, the Shabbat challah is covered from the beginning of the Kiddush (blessing

Modernizing Birkat HaMotzi: A Feminist Spiritual Approach

This excerpt from Marcia Falk’s “The Book of Blessings” discusses both the significance of Birkat HaMotzi (the blessing over the bread) as a symbol of community, and offers a modernization of the blessing that can be

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 our in conjunction

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 generation blesses the

Friday Night & Beyond: Insights on the Blessing Over the Children (Plus Text & Audio)

This thorough excerpt from “Friday Night and Beyond” by Lori Palatnik explains the biblical origins of the ritual blessing over the children on Friday night, as well as a practical how-to guide for parents, complete

Michael Ben Naim’s Original Blessing Over the Children

This music video features Israeli artist, Michael Ben Naim, and a woman (presumably his wife) singing his original, emotive melody for the Hebrew blessing over their children. Whereas the blessing traditionally begins with a blessing