We are humbled by
the awesome responsibility of this moment.
We are filled with joy and trembling as we
contemplate the tasks that lie before us:
the task of rearing our child in love,
the task of teaching courage,
instilling honesty, integrity, responsibility.
May we come to embody the virtues
we teach, and my our child see in us
the values and behaviors we hope to see in her/him.
May s/he never regret this moment
of choosing and home coming,
when we took her/him into our hearts
and became one family.
May this day be a special memory for us,
recalling new possibilities for love.
May our child be a blessing to all s/he meets.
And may s/he count us among her blessings as well.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה
Barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam,
she-heh-kheh-yanu, v’kee-y’-manu, v’he-ge-anu
laz-man ha-zeh.
Blessed is the Source of Life, the Fountain of Being
whose power enlivens us, sustains us,
and enables us to reach this moment of joy.
