A Tekhine For A New Mother

Since the late Middle Ages, Jewish women have marked special occasions by reciting tekhines, personal petitionary prayers in the vernacular. The following is a tekhine for a new mother on the occasion of her son’s brisLit. Covenant. Judaism is defined by the covenant - the contract between the Jewish people and God. God promises to make us abundant and to give us the land of Israel; we promise to obey God's commandments. This covenant begins with Abraham and is reiterated throughout the Torah. A brit milah, literally a covenant of circumcision, is often simply called a brit or bris.. It may be recited privately to oneself before the ceremony starts, or recited aloud as part of the ceremony itself. Those familiar with Yiddish may find it meaningful to recite the tekhine in Yiddish, the vernacular language of AshkenaziJew of Eastern European descent. The term also refers to the practices and customs associated with this community, often in contrast to Sephardic (Southern European) traditions. Jewry for hundreds of years; others should recite it in English or translate it into whatever language they are most comfortable with.

Lord of the world, when the Temple

רבונו של עולם, ווען דאס בית המקדש

stood in 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.,

איז געשטאנען אין ירושלים

a woman who had just risen from childbirth

האט איין יולדת בעדארפט אויפשטיינדיג

was obligated to bring a sacrifice.

. פון קינדבעט ברענגען א קרבן

Now that the Temple

, איצט, בעבור עוונותינו הרבים

is no more, one fulfills

אז דאס בית המקדש איז ניטא

this obligation with prayer

איז מען יוצא מיט

in a lesser temple.

. די תפילה אין מקדש מעט

So I come to shulSynagogue (Yiddish) to thank you, dear God,

, גיי איך אין שול דיר, ליבער גאט

and to praise you for all the lovingkindness

דאנקען און לויבן פאר אלץ וואס

that you have bestowed upon me to this day.

. דו האסט מיט מיר ביז היינט געטאן חסד

And I also ask you not to cease performing

און איך בעט דיר דאס ווייטער

your lovingkindness for me:

: זאלסטו אויך דיין חסד ניט אפּ טאן פון מיר

May […] be a beautiful sapling

פלוני זאל זיין א שיינע פלאנצונג אין

in the Jewish vineyard, for the glory of 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..

. דעם יידישן וויינגארטן, לתפארת ישראל

May he come into the world to help

ער זאל קומען אויף דער וועלט

bring salvation and comfort to all Israel.

. צוא ישועות ונחמות אויף כלל ישראל

In his time may the Jews merit

אין זיין צייט זאלין יידן

a true redemption, amen.

. זוכה זיין א ווארע גאולה,