“Birkat HaBanim” – a special blessing for children before Yom Kippur
“Birkat HaBanim” – a special blessing for children before Yom Kippur
It is very important to bless your children with the special blessing from the “Mahzor for Yom Kippur” before leaving for the synagogue, on Erev Yom Kippur.
This is a moment of incredible power to truly bless your children with everything: good middot (character traits), health, good fortune, wisdom, and happiness.
This blessing removes all curses from the children (spoken by someone), and it may be recited by either the mother or the father.
Before the blessing, place your right hand on the child’s head and recite:
[For boys]: “Yesimcha Elokim k'Ephraim v'chi-Menashe.”
[For girls]: “Yesimech Elokim k'Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel v'Leah.”
Blessing:
“Vayedaber Ado-nai el Moshe lemor:
Daber el Aharon v'el banav lemor, ko tevarechu et bnei Yisrael amor lahem:
Yevarechecha Ado-nai v'yishmerecha. Ya'er Ado-nai panav elecha vichuneka. Yisa Ado-nai panav elecha, v'yasem lecha shalom.
V'samu et Shemi al bnei Yisrael va'Ani avarechem.” (Bamidbar 6:22)
Translation
And the L-rd spoke to Moshe, saying: Speak to Aharon and his sons, saying: Thus shall you bless the children of Israel, saying to them: May the L-rd bless you and protect you. May the L-rd shine His countenance upon you and be gracious to you. May the L-rd turn His countenance toward you and grant you peace. Thus shall they place My Name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.
“Vihi Ratzon milfanecha, Avinu shebashamayim, sheyiten belibcha ahavato v'yirato, v'tihye yirat Ado-nai al panecha kol yemei chayecha shelo techeta, v'hiye chishkecha baTorah u'mitzvot. Einecha lenochach yabitu, picha yedaber chokhmot v'libcha yehge oskot b'mitzvot kol yemeihem, vihi mekorecha baruch. V'yazmin lecha parnasatecha b'heter u'v'nachat u'v'revach mitachat yado harechava v'lo al yedei matanot basar va'dam, parnasa shetihye panuy la'avodat HaShem. V'tikatev v'techatem l'chayim tovim va'arukim betoch kol tzadikei Yisrael. Amen.”
Translation
May it be the will of our Father in Heaven that your heart be filled with love for Him and awe of Him, and that you revere Him all the days of your life, so that you will not sin, and that your desire will be for Torah and mitzvot. May your eyes look straight ahead, your mouth speak words of wisdom, and your heart be occupied with mitzvot, and may your source be blessed. May He provide you with abundant sustenance, without hardship, so that you will not be dependent on the will of other people and will be able to serve the Almighty. May you be inscribed in the Book of Life and Longevity together with all the righteous of Israel. Amen!
(“Mahzor for Yom Kippur”)
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Tags: Yom Kippur, “Yom Kippur Machzor”, Birkat HaBanim, Birkat HaBanim Before Yom Kippur, Birkat HaBanim, “Birkat HaBanim” – the Special Berachah for Children Before Yom Kippur
