Jewish families all over the world bless their children on the evening of Shabbatot and holidays. The blessings offered here are appropriate and affirming for children of all genders, including those who identify as transgender, gender expansive, and nonbinary.
Historically, blessings for children were gender specific. Boys were blessed with the wish that they would be like the biblical brothers Ephraim and Manasseh. Girls were blessed with the wish that they would be like the biblical matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah - and the Hebrew for both blessings was heavily gendered.
Today, some families combine the blessings, recognizing that we wish for the best qualities of those we admire (of all genders) to emerge in all our children. Many include additional blessings from the heart that affirm their love for each child's unique self and the wonderful traits and values they hope their children will exemplify.
Your child may choose to have you place your hands on their head, shoulders, or back as you recite the blessing.
יְשִׂמֵךְ אֱלֹהִים כְּשָׂרָה, כְּרִבְקָה, כְּרָחֵל, וּכְלֵאָה.
Y'simeich Elohim k'Sarah, k'Rivkah, k'Rachel, k'Leah.
May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.
יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלֹהִים כְּאֶפְרַֽיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה.
Y'simcha Elohim k'Efrayim v'chi-Menasheh.
May God make you like Ephraim and Menasheh.
Be who you are –
and may you be blessed
in all that you are.*
From "Miskhan T'filah: A Reform Siddur," CCAR Press, 2007. All rights reserved.
Some may add:
יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁשַּׁבָּת זוֹ תַּשְׁרֶה (שֶׁחַג זֶה יַשְׁרֶה) עָלֵינוּ אוֹרָה, שִׂמְחָה, וְשָׁלוֹם.
From “The Book of Blessings: New Jewish Prayers for Daily Life, the Sabbath, and the New Moon Festival,” Marcia Lee Falk, CCAR Press, 2017. Used with permission.
Y’hi ratzon sheShabbat zo tashreh [shechag zeh yashreh] aleinu orah, simcha, v’shalom.
Note: Omit “sheShabbat zo tashreh” when saying this blessing on a holiday. Instead, substitute the words in parentheses.
May this Shabbat [holiday] bring us light, joy, and peace.
יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ.
יָאֵר יְיָ פָּנָיו אֵלֶֽיךָ וִיחֻנֶּֽךָּ.
יִשָּׂא יְיָ פָּנָיו אֵלֶֽיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם.
Y'varechecha Adonai v'yish'm'recha.
Ya-er Adonai panav eilecha vichuneka.
Yisa Adonai panav eilecha
v'yaseim l'cha shalom.
May God bless you and keep you.
May God's light shine upon you, and may God be gracious to you.
May you feel God's Presence within you always, and may you find peace.
This blessing, also called “Birkat Kohanim,” comes from the Book of Numbers and asks that the recipient be granted protection, grace, and peace. It is customarily said as a second blessing for all children.
יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ.
יָאֵר יְיָ פָּנָיו אֵלֶֽיךָ וִיחֻנֶּֽךָּ.
יִשָּׂא יְיָ פָּנָיו אֵלֶֽיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם.
From “The Book of Blessings: New Jewish Prayers for Daily Life, the Sabbath, and the New Moon Festival,” Marcia Lee Falk, CCAR Press, 2017. Used with permission.
Y'varechecha Adonai v'yish'm'recha.
Ya-er Adonai panav eilecha vichuneka.
Yisa Adonai panav eilecha
v'yaseim l'cha shalom.
May God bless you and keep you.
May God's light shine upon you, and may God be gracious to you.
May you feel God's Presence within you always, and may you find peace.
Source
From Miskhan T'filah: A Reform Siddur © 2007 by CCAR Press. All rights reserved.
*Additional blessing is from The Book of Blessings: New Jewish Prayers for Daily Life, the Sabbath, and the New Moon Festival (CCAR Press, 2017). Copyright © 1996, 2017 by Marcia Lee Falk. Used by permission.
