Passover Evening Blessings: Kiddush - Blessing over the Wine, Shabbat Version
Blessing over the wine for the festival of Passover when the seder falls on Friday night. The Shehecheyanu (see below) is recited after the kiddush, immediately before drinking the wine
Blessing for Searching and Removing Leaven (Chametz)
One of the many fun customs associated with Passover is to search for, collect, and destroy any chametz (leavening or grain that ferments) in the house. Children are particularly enthusiastic about this “search and destroy” mission.
Mothers of Jerusalem: A Prayer for the Protection of Our Children
Mothers of Jerusalem, Your wail echoes in the hills, Your grief resounds in the valleys, Your prayer rises up into the luminous sky.
Meditation Before Yom Kippur for One Who Cannot Fast
Jewish tradition recognizes that fasting is not a safe practice for all Jews. For this reason, children under the age of 13 and individuals who are pregnant or ill are not required to fast in Yom Kippur. For those who fall into this category, the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services provides a special meditation to recite instead, written by Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub.
A Prayer for the State of Israel, Her People and Soldiers, and for the Innocent Among the Palestinian People
Eternal God, receive our prayers for the peace and security of the State of Israel and its people.
Prayer for Campers
May the one who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah bless all of these campers as they go off to summer camp.
A Prayer for Safety After Violent Weather
God of heaven and earth, Source of All, The storm has passed. Earth, sea and sky are quiet. The tempest moved on.
In Memoriam: Sandy Hook
These two prayers are to be read in commemorating the anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT (Dec. 14, 2012). The first, “For the Children of Newtown,” is prayer I wrote in response to the attack. May the memories of the righteous be a blessing.
A Prayer for the Jewish New Year
May we hold lovingly in our thoughts / those who suffer from tyranny, subjection, cruelty, and injustice, / and work every day towards the alleviation of their suffering
Rosh HaShanah Evening Blessings: Kiddush- Blessing over the Wine, Shabbat and Weekday
Blessings over the wine during the evening of Rosh HaShanah.