This post presents the Hebrew, English and transliterated texts of the Mi Sheberach prayer for a Bat Mitzvah girl to be recited during the Torah reading service in synagogue, according to the tradition of the Jews of Florence, Italy. The Hebrew text is from «Zeved Habat» by Aaron Cohen. The blessing was published by JOFA, the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance and shared on Ritualwell, a project of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College that provides a platform for creating new Jewish practices and observances.
Misheberakh Prayer for a Bat Mitzvah Celebrant in the Florentine Tradition
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אִמּוֹתֵינוּ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַנַּעֲרָה __________ בַּת __________________ שֶׁהִגִּיעָה לְפִרְקָהּ. אָבִינוּ שֶׁבְּשָׂמִים אָב הָרַחֲמָן יָגֵן בַּעֲדָהּ וְיִשְׁמֹר אֶת נַפְשָׁהּ. יָסִיר מִמֶּנָּה כֹּל מַחֲלָה וְכֹל צָרָה וְנֶזֶק יָצִילָה. יִשְׂמְחוֹ בָּהּ אָבִיהָ וְאִמָּהּ וְתִמְצָא חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱלֹהִים וְאָדָם וִיקַיֵּם בָּהּ (בַּהֵן) מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת יי הִיא תִתְהָלַל תְּנוּ לָהּ מִפְּרִי יָדֶיהָ וִיְהָלְלוּהָ בִּשְׁעָרִים מַעֲשֶׂיהָ אַמֵּן. כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן
Mi Sheberakh imoteinu Sarah Rivkah Rachel v’Leah hu y’varekh et hana’rah __________ bat __________ Shehigiah l’firkah. Avinu shebashamaim av harachaman yagen ba’adah v’ishmor et nafshah. Yasir mimenah kol machala v’khol tzarah v’nezek yatzilah. Yismecho bah aviha v’imah v’timtzah chen v’sekhel tov b’einei elohim v’adam vi’ykuyam bah (bahen) mikra shekatuv ishah yir’et Adonai hi tit’halal t’nu la mipri yadeyha viyehal’luha basharim ma’aseyha. Amen ken yehi ratzon.
May the One who blessed our foremothers Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah bless the young girl, ________ daughter of ________, who has reached the age of twelve. May our Father in Heaven, Merciful Father protect her and guard her spirit. He should remove from her all illness and save her from any dis-tress and harm. Let her father and mother rejoice with her, and let her find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and the eyes of man. Let the words of Scripture be fulfilled through her, «A woman who fears God shall be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her deeds praise her in the gates.» Amen, May this be Your Will.