With joy and anticipation I/we bring my/our son/daughter
into my/our home for the first time.
How lovely are your tents, O JacobLit. heel Jacob is the third patriarch, son of Isaac and Rebecca, and father to the twelve tribes of Israel. More than any of the other patriarchs, Jacob wrestles with God and evolves from a deceitful, deal-making young man to a mature, faithful partner to God. His Hebrew name is Yaakov., your dwelling places, O IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel..
Ma’ Tovu o-ha-lekha Yaakov.
May my/our home always be a mikdash ma’at, a small sanctuary,
filled with your presence.
May my/our home be your sanctuary, my/our child,
a place where arms shall cradle you and voices sing you lullabies,
where hands shall uphold you and eyes delight to watch you grow.
In this home may we reach out to each other in love.
In this home may our hearts and those of my/our children
be turned to one another.
In this home may we create bonds of trust and care
that will keep us close as we grow together as a family.
Bless us, Source of Life, all of us together
with the light of Your presence.
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Reprinted with permission of the author. Originally published in Anita Diamant’s, The New Jewish Baby Book (Jewish Lights, 1994).www.jewishlights.com. wwwbez613.org.
