The Hebrew text is taken from Zeved HabatLit. Gift of a daughter (Aramaic) A traditional Sephardic ceremony for welcoming a baby girl. Modern girl baby-namings are also sometimes called a Zeved Habat. by AaronBrother of Moses, chosen as Moses' interlocutor. His Hebrew name is Aharon. CohenPriest. Descendants of Aaron who served in the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, in the absence of a Temple, Jews continue to keep track of who is a Cohen. A Cohen is accorded certain privileges in synagogue and is forbidden from entering a graveyard or marrying a divorcee. Priesthood is patrilineal – if one’s father was a Cohen, then one is a Cohen. (JerusalemLit. City of peace From the time of David to the Roman destruction, Jerusalem was the capital of Israel and the spiritual and governmental center of the Jewish people. During the long exile, Jews longed to return to Jerusalem and wrote poems, prayers, and songs about the beloved city. In 1967, with the capture of the Old City, Jerusalem was reunited, becoming "the eternal capital of Israel." Still, the longing for peace is unfulfilled., 1990).
Mi Shebeirakh imoteinu SarahThe first matriarch, wife of Abraham, and mother of Isaac, whom she birthed at the age of 90. Sarah, in Rabbinic tradition, is considered holy, beautiful, and hospitable. Many prayers, particularly the Amidah (the central silent prayer), refer to God as Magen Avraham – protector of Abraham. Many Jews now add: pokehd or ezrat Sarah – guardian or helper of Sarah. Rivkah RachelLavan's younger daughter and Jacob's beloved wife second wife (after he is initially tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah). Rachel grieves throughout her life that she is barren while Leah is so fertile. Ultimately, Rachel gives birth to Joseph and dies in childbirth with Benjamin. Rachel is remembered as compassionate (she is said to still weep for her children), and infertile women often invoke Rachel as a kind of intercessor and visit her tomb on the road to Bethlehem. v’LeahThe third of the Jewish matriarchs, Lead is the eldest of Lavan's daughters and one of the wives of Jacob. She is the daughter whom Lavan tricks Jacob into marrying instead of his younger daughter Rachel, whom Jacob has requested to marry. Leah is mother to six of the the twelve tribes and to one daughter, Dinah.
hu y’varekh et hana’rah __________ bat __________
Shehigiah l’firkah.
Avinu shebashamaim av harachaman yagen ba’adah v’ishmor
et nafshah. Yasir mimenah kol machala v’khol tzarah
v’nezek yatzilah. Yismecho bah aviha v’imah v’timtzah chen
v’sekhel tov b’einei elohim v’adamAdam is the first human being created by God. Symbolizes: Creation, humankind. vi’ykuyam bah (bahen)
mikra shekatuv ishah yir’et Adonai hi tit’halal
t’nu la mipri yadeyha viyehal’luha basharim ma’aseyha
Amen ken yehi ratzonLit. "May it be Your Will ..." The opening of many petitionary prayers..
May the One who blessed our foremothers Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah bless the young girl daughter of ________ who has reached the age of twelve.
May our Father in Heaven, Merciful Father protect her and guard her spirit. He should remove from her all illness and save her from any dis-tress and harm. Let her father and mother rejoice with her, and let her find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and the eyes of man. Let the words of Scripture be fulfilled through her, “A woman who fears God shall be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her deeds praise her in the gates.”
Amen, May this be Your Will.
Published by JOFA,The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance The Orthodox Jewish Woman and Ritual: Options and Opportunities Bat MitzvahLit. Commandment. It is traditionally held that there are 613 mitzvot (plural) in Judaism, both postive commandments (mandating actions) and negative commandments (prohibiting actions). Mitzvah has also become colloquially assumed to mean the idea of a “good deed.", www.jofa.org. Used by permission of JOFA.