Dear God and God of our Ancestors
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. RebeccaThe second Jewish matriarch, Isaac's wife, and mother to Jacob and Esau. Rebecca is an active parent, talking to God when she is pregnant and learning the fate of her children, then ultimately manipulating Isaac and the children to ensure Jacob's ascendancy. Her Hebrew name is Rivka. 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. and 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. the mothers of our tradition are mothers to us all.
They were not perfect but they were holy. And their merits are a blessing to us through to this day.
Through the generations, our collective mothers have struggled and sacrificed, celebrated and rejoiced, persevered and flourished and for this we are grateful. We thank them for all they have done and tried to do.
On this Mother’s Day we ask that you bless all the mothers, that they find strength, clarity, patience and love to be all that they can and want to be.
On this Mother’s Day we ask that you bless those who are missing their mothers, mourning their absence or whose relationships are tinged with regret.
On this Mother’s Day we ask that you bless those mothers whose hearts are broken and who are missing their children.
On this Mother’s Day, we ask that you bless those who are seeking to become mothers.
On this Mother’s Day, we ask that you bless those whose love and care provides mothering throughout our community.
And may we all navigate our days with grace and love so that our Motherhood journies will be counted for a blessing.
One Response
I read this prayer on Shabbat before mother’s day. I received many positive comments, requests for the link, and the suggestion that we add it to our liturgy each year. It hot all the right notes.
Thank you for making this available.