Prayers and Blessings Search

Search for a prayer or blessing by holiday, topic or keyword

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.

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.

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.

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