Hebrew Text 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).
The girls traditionally enter in a group, dressed in white and often wearing a crown of flowers on their hair, together with their families and friends. The ceremony takes place outside regular prayer services. The following prayer is said with the ark open, facing the TorahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general. scrolls. The verses of the prayer are divided between the girls. Afterwards, the chief Rabbi addresses the girls.
Barukh atah eloheinu melekh ha’olam sh’gmalani kol tuv v’hechyani v’kimani lazman hazeh lavo ba’anashim ul’kabel ol mitzvotekha: Adonai Adonai el rachum v’chanun erekh apayim v’rav chesed ve’emet. Hinei hayom hachiloti geshet el heikhal kodsh’kha b’yiratkha l’histape’ach v’nachlatkha: Gam ki na’arah anokhi v’ein milah bilshoni mul k’vod rom’mutkha al na timaseni. Ki mipi ol’lim v’yonkim yisad’ta oz. Ut’novev l’shon g’mulei chalav va’atikei mishara’im l’hishtabecha bit’hilat’kha: el elohei haruchot l’khol basar mi khamokha moreh ham’lamed l’yisrael da’at: Mishamayim hishmata din. Torah tzivah lanu Mosheh morasha k’hilat Ya’akov. Hi chayeinu v’orekh yameinu: Ubameh t’zakeh na’arah archah lishmor kid’varkha: Yached l’vavi l’yirah et shimkha had’rikheni ba’amitekha l’hishta’asea b’chukei tzid’kekha uv’divrei kodsh’kha uv’limudei chokhmat’kha: adabrah neged hamta’atim v’lo evosh. B’shem elohei avotai edgol v’lo tikhbadna yadai. Tabanah s’fatai t’hilah l’hagdil torah ul’ha’adirah v ‘lo echesheh:
Et’paer b’shem yisrael v’lo ashaker be’emunati: B’yad’kha itotai uv’yadkha af’kid ruchi: Hach’limeni v’hachyeni lalekhet bidrakheikha b’lev shalem uv’nefesh chafetzha la’asot tz’dakah vachesed: Chaz’keni am’tzeni lihiyot me’avadekha had’vekim b’kha l’hodi’a barabim shimkha hagadol v’hanora: Umalah ha’aretz uveitkha yikare veit t’filah l’khol ha’amim: Barukh atah Adonai lamdeni chukekha.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe who has bestowed every goodness upon me, and who has kept me alive and sustained me to this season to become part of the people to accept the yoke of your commandments:
HashemLit. The Name, referring to the ineffable name of God; used as a substitute for any of the more sacred names of God when not speaking in prayer. Particularly used in conversation., Hashem, Lord, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth. Today, I have started to approach your holy sanctuary to cleave to your heritage. Even if I am a young girl and have no words to face the honor of your supremacy, please do not despise me. From the mouths of babes and sucklings, you have established your strength, God of all, who is like you who guides and teaches 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. knowledge? From the heavens you have emanated justice. MosheThe quintessential Jewish leader who spoke face to face with God, unlike any other prophet, and who freed the people from Egypt, led them through the desert for forty years, and received the Torah on Mt. Sinai. His Hebrew name is Moshe. commanded the Torah to us, an inheritance for the community of 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.. It is our life and the length of our days. And how do you grant a young girl the privilege to keep your commandments? Attach my heart to your name and guide me in your truth to be engaged in the laws of your justice and in your holy words and in the words of your wisdom. I will speak out against the dishonest and misleading people, and will not be embarrassed. I will be a banner for the name of the God of my ancestors. My lips will express praise to magnify and glorify the Torah, and I will not be silent. I will be proud of the name of Israel and will not be dishonest in my beliefs. Hashem, into your hands I commend my spirit. Keep me alive so I may walk in your path wholeheartedly, and with a willing spirit do righteousness and loving kindness. Strengthen me to be among your servants who cleave to you, to introduce many to your great and glorious name. And the earth will be full and your house will be called the house of prayer for all the nations. Blessed are you, God, teach me your laws.
