This prayer for the family is often recited after lighting the Shabbat candles, an auspicious time for prayer, according to Jewish tradition. Many women use this as an opportunity to recite their own personal prayers or those written by women in the past. Feel free to recite this blessing in English or Hebrew, using the texts below. Scroll to the bottom of the post to hear a recording of this prayer from The Shabbat Project, a movement encouraging Jews all over the world to observe one Shabbat together.
A Prayer for the Family
May it be Your will Lord, my G-d and G-d of my forefathers, that You show favour to me
(my husband | my sons | my daughters | my father | my mother)
and all of my relatives; and that You grant us and all Israel a good long life;
that You remember us with beneficent memory and blessing; that You consider
us with a consideration of salvation and
compassion; that You bless us with great
blessings; that You make our households complete; that You cause Your Presence to dwell among us.
Privilege me to raise children and grand-
children who are wise and understanding, who will love Hashem and fear G-d, people of truth, holy offspring attached to G-d, who will illuminate the world with Torah and good deeds and with every labour in the service of the Creator.
Please, hear my supplication at this time,
in the merit of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, our Mothers, and cause our light to illuminate that it be not extinguished forever, and let Your countenance shine so that we are saved.
Amen.
Hebrew
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי. שֶׁתְּחוֹנֵן אוֹתִי (וְאֶת אִישִׁי וְאֶת בָּנַי וְאֶת אָבִי וְאֶת אִמִּי) וְאֶת כָּל קְרוֹבַי. וְתִתֶּן לָנוּ וּלְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל חַיִּים טוֹבִים וַאֲרֻכִּים. וְתִזְכְּרֵנוּ בְזִכְרוֹן טוֹבָה וּבְרָכָה. וְתִפְקְדֵנוּ בִּפְקֻדַּת יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים וּתְבָרְכֵנוּ בְּרָכוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת. וְתַשְׁלִים בָּתֵּינוּ. וְתַשְׁכֵּן שְׁכִינָתְךָ בֵּינֵינוּ.
וְזַכֵּנִי לְגַדֵּל בָּנִים וּבְנֵי בָנִים חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים. אוֹהֲבֵי יְיָ. יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים. אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת. זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ בַּיָי. דְּבֵקִים וּמְאִירִים אֶת הָעוֹלָם בַּתּוֹרָה וּבְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים וּבְכָל מְלֶאכֶת עֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא. אָנָּא שְׁמַע אֶת תְּחִנָּתִי בָּעֵת הַזֹּאת. בִּזְכוּת שָׂרָה וְרִבְקָה וְרָחֵל וְלֵאָה אִמּוֹתֵינוּ. וְהָאֵר נֵרֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יִכְבֶּה לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד וְהָאֵר פָּנֶיךָ וְנִוָּשֵׁעָה. אָמֵן:
Transliteration
Y’hi Ratzon Milfanechah, Ado-nai Elo-hai
Vei-lohei Avotai, Sheh-t’chonein Oti
V’et Ishi / V’et Banai /V’et B’notai /V’et Avi /V’et Imi
V’et Kol K’rovai, V’titein Lanu Ul’chol Yisrael
Chayim Tovim V’aruchim; V’tizk’reinu
B’zichron Tova Uvracha; V’tifk’deinu Bifkudat
Y’shua V’rachamim; Ut’varecheinu B’rachot
G’dolot; V’tashlim Bateinu; V’tashkein
Sh’chinatcha Beineinu.
V’zakeini L’gadel
Banim Uvnei Vanim Chachamim Un’vonim,
Ohavei Ado-nai, Yirei Elo-him, Anshei Emet,
Zerah Kodesh, Ba-Donai D’veikim, Um’irim Et
Ha-olam BaTorah Uv’ma-asim Tovim, Uv’chol
M’lechet Avodat Haborei. Anah Sh’ma Et
T’chinati Ba-eit Hazot, Bizchut Sarah V’Rivka
V’Rachel V’Leah Imoteinu, V’ha-er Neireinu
Shelo Yichbeh L’olam Va-ed, V’ha-er Panechah
V’nivashei-ah. Amen.