Birkat Kohanim The Priestly Blessing

During morning prayers and holidays, the Kohanim approach the front of the synagogue and bless the congregation.
This is known as the Priestly Blessing, Birkat Kohanim or Nesiat Kapayim.
The prayer or blessing is based on the scriptural verse: "They shall place My name upon the children of Israel, and I Myself shall bless them."

The powerful Jewish Blessing consists of the following Biblical verses (Numbers 6:24–26):

May Hashem bless you and guard you
May Hashem make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you
May Hashem lift up his face

After the Amidah, the Kohanim wash their hands, remove their shoes and walk up to the platform in front of the ark, which is at the front of the synagogue. They cover their heads with their tallit and recite the blessing over the performance of the mitzvah – turn to face the congregation, and then the hazzan recites the three verse blessing (written above) with the Kohanim repeating after him. The congregation responds Amen after each verse.

The text is found in the Bible in Numbers 6:23–27, when Aaron and his sons bless the Israelites. Amulets, dating from the First Temple Period, inscribed with this text are found today in Jerusalem at the Israel Museum.
A range of interpretations on these verses relate them to the three Patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to the three applicable attributes of God: Mercy, Courage and Glory.
Only Kohanim are permitted to perform the Priestly Blessing, however the Torah strictly prohibits a Kohen from reciting the blessing when under the influence of alcohol, or immediately following the death of a close relative.

All of the Kohanim present in the synagogue are obliged to participate and so should a Kohen refuse, he is required to leave the sanctuary for the duration of the blessing.

In many traditional Jewish communities it is customary for congregants to spread their tallit over their own heads during the blessing and they must not look at the Kohanim. Should a man have children, they will come under his tallit for a blessing.

In addition to synagogue prayer services the Birkat Kohenim is also used by parents to bless their children on Friday night before eating the Shabbat meal; and some rabbis say the blessing to a boy at his bar mitzvah. Usually it is prefaced for boys with a request for God to make the child like Ephraim and Manasseh (this is Jacob's prayer to the children of Joseph).

The Ana BeKoach Prayer

Ana BeKoach, g'du-lat y'min-cha ta-tir, tze-ru-ra: We beg Thee, with the strength and goodness of Thy right arm, Untangle our knotted fate.

So begins one of the most significant prayers connected with the Kabbalah. The Ana BeKoach prayer, also chanted by Jews each Friday night, has an unknown author, and is attributed to have been written around the Second Century C.E. The prayer is made up of seven sentences which are supposed to correspond with the seven days of the week. The Kabbalistic meaning is even more pronounced as the prayer itself is actually a form of code for the name of God. Each letter corresponds to its numerical position within the Hebrew alphabet, and if you add up the first letters of each word you have the number 42, which is encoded to be first 42 letters of the Book of Genesis.

In other words, the number 42 is another term for God, The Creator.

Ana BeKoach is often found engraved on Jewish Jewelry and recited in Kabbalah meditation prayers and exercises, with the result to be a form of healing energy for the soul. As each line of the prayer has a significant meaning, the reciting of the prayer is supposed to assist in bringing comfort and healing into our lives. For example, the beginning of the prayer, as noted above, is make us aware that we live in a world of time and space, filled with both chaos and difficult obstacles. By praying for assistance from G-d, we can rise above all barriers and achieve the ability to rise the problems that surround us, enabling us to "untangle out knotted fate".

Other lines in the prayer call upon the Almighty One to assist us in achieving good health and prosperity, as well as finding the inner strength to prevail, even though there is "darkness" all around us. The prayer even makes mention of the forces of evil the Satan has sown upon the world, and how we can "tear away Satan" by eradicating our negative egos and fears.

One of the most meaningful lines is line 6 in which the Kabbalah's most hidden secrets are revealed, making the Kabbalah's essence of spiritual wisdom known to all. The prayer ends with the message of bringing a spiritual new beginning, enabling us to throw off our negative forces and begin a new life, more enlightened and refreshed.

The end of the prayer asks God to "accept our cries and hear our screams"; and blesses the name of God's Kingdom forever. As we are but mere mortals, we ask God to assist us in our search for answers to help find more meaning to our lives.

Unique Bar Mitzvah Gifts

The Bar Mitzvah ceremony is Judaism's second most important ceremony for Jewish males, the first being ritual circumcision on the eighth day of life. While ritual circumcision, or Brit Mila, initiates a male Jewish child into the covenant of his people, the ceremony of Bar Mitzvah initiates a boy into manhood at age 13. Upon reaching this plateau, a young man obtains the rights of Jewish Manhood, including being counted in a Minyan or prayer group requiring at least 10 Jewish males to conduct formal Jewish prayer. It also allows a young man the honor of being called to the Torah, Judaism's most sacred text, and is a major milestone in his Jewish education and preparation towards all the responsibilities of an adult, including marriage and heading a family.

The origins of the formal Bar Mitzvah ceremony date back at least to the period of the Second Temple and though customs differ somewhat in various Jewish cultures, including European or Ashkenazi backgrounds verses Sephardic or Oriental cultures. The basic ceremony of being called up to the Torah for the first time, and reading portions from both this holy scroll and from the Haphtarah or supplemental readings based on the Torah, are more or less the same in all of Jewish tradition.

When a young man approaches age 13, he begins studying for this ceremony including learning special melodies or trope in order to chant the verses from the holy readings of the Torah and Haphtarah portions for the Shabbat that he is to become a Bar Mitzvah. In many Jewish cultures, this also includes the Thursday preceding Shabbat as this enables proud parents and relatives to take photographs of his chanting from the Torah, an act forbidden on Shabbat. In Israel, this event can be even more meaningful as it is often done before the Kotel or Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. Some people living abroad consider this act to be of such importance that they actually travel to Israel in order for their child to be formally initiated into Jewish Manhood in front of Judaism's most sacred symbol: the last remaining portion of the Temple.

In American, non-orthodox congregations, the mothers and other female relatives of the Bar Mitzvah have a greater role in the religious part of the ceremony with the entire family often invited to join the young man on the Bimah or platform where the Rabbi and the Torah reader are located to receive a special rabbinical blessing on Shabbat. In some conservative and reform congregations, the mother is even given the same honor as her husband in being called up to the Torah. Upon finishing his Haphtarah reading the Bar Mitzvah is often bombarded with sweets being thrown at him by his family, guests, and by members of the congregation.

After the Rabbinical blessing, the Bar Mitzvah may give a small talk or sermon to thank those who prepared him for this special moment in his life, as well as express what this occasion means to him and his ascent into Jewish Manhood. The ceremony of becoming a Bar Mitzvah is truly a milestone in the life of every young Jewish male.

In addition to the religious element, this event is also accompanied by parties and even formal banquets for the young man, his family and friends. These parties can range from being simple family get-togethers to very elaborate affairs, costing thousand of dollars; with limitations only to the parent's (and grand parent's) pocketbooks.

In addition to receiving various religious articles such as books, prayer shawls or talitim and the leather tifillim worn daily by religious Jewish men in morning prayers, the young man also receives numerous Bar Mitzvah Gifts of both money and personal items which add to the excitement of the occasion. In recent years Bar Mitzvah gifts have included more Israeli made products like unique Hamsa Hands and Jewish jewelry handcrafted by leading Israeli artists.

Visit our Bar Mitzvah gifts section for some great gift ideas.

Judaica Gifts & Israeli Handmade Jewish Gifts

The term Judaica covers diverse areas of the Jewish world and civilization, including Jewish history, culture, holidays, language, scripture, religious teachings, religious books, Jewish jewelry and artifacts, in general everything having to do with the Jewish religion and the Jews.

JUDAISM: the religion of the Jew, equivalent to the Hebrew “yahadut”, Judaism was the first monotheistic faith, ( the belief in one and only one God). It is practiced by the matrilineal descendants(descendants of the mother).

There is not a trace of racism in Judaism, the doors are open to all, anyone irrespective of his origin or color, is an eligible candidate for entry into the Jewish community.

Judaism is a lifestyle defined by God in the Torah (the bible), which contains obligations of man to God, such as the observance of Shabbat, of man to man, the prohibition of murder, and of man to him or herself and the prohibition of suicide.

Judaism affirms that god spoke to man in the form of prophecy, and that man has an opportunity to communicate with God by means of prayer. Although there are great differences between Judaism and other religions of the world, Judaism anticipate the time, told in the bible, that those nations will acknowledge the Lord in Zion, and the Lord will say: “and I brought to my Holy mountain, and allowed them to rejoice in my house of prayer, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”. ( Ezekiel 36;25 ).

Shabbat Candlesticks - Gifts for Any Occasion

Every week, before the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath, women light two candles to mark the beginning of the religious day of rest for observant Jews. As it was instructed by G-d to His servant Moses on Mt. Sinai, and written in the Ten Commandments: "Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy". The tradition of lighting two candles or two small lamps of oil to usher in the Sabbath, or Shabbat in Hebrew, is said to originate in Jewish communities situated in and around the Mediterranean basin in the 8th Century C.E. The custom eventually spread to other Jewish communities until by the 14th Century it had spread over the entire Jewish world.

The ritual of lighting two candles by the mother of the family usually takes place on Friday afternoon several minutes before the official beginning of the Sabbath (Shabbat) Eve. The woman lights both candles after saying the following prayer: "Blessed art Thou o Lord, King of the Universe, who commands us to observe the holy act (Mitzvot) of lighting the Shabbat candles". If there are unmarried daughters in the house, they are required to light a single candle before the two candles are lit by their mother, officially hallowing the sacredness of the Sabbath. The one candle by the daughter indicates that as she is not yet married her life is still incomplete.

The lighting of the Shabbat Candlesticks, besides welcoming the Sabbath, are supposed to symbolize the last lighting of fire before the beginning of Shabbat when no fires or lights are to be lit.

Shabbat Candlesticks come in a myriad of materials and designs, including those made of crystal, silver, bronze, pewter, ceramic, wood, and glass. While some are very simple in design, others are ornate with designs of biblical fruit, such as pomegranates, and biblical verses dealing with Shabbat. The Candlesticks often come in sets including single Candlesticks to be lit by unmarried daughters. Some Candlesticks have been carried down in families, from mothers to daughters, for generations.

On Jewish festivals, it is permitted to light candles after sundown, providing they are lit from a flame that is already burning. Traditional Jewish women light festival candles in a similar manner as they do before Shabbat, reciting a prayer pertaining to the holiday for which they are lit. If the first night of the festival happens to fall on the eve of Shabbat, then the festival candles are lit first, followed by the ones for Shabbat.

The lighting of candles, whether for Shabbat or a festival is a very important part of preserving religious traditions which have been passed down from parent to child for hundreds of years.

MostOriginal.com offers a great selection of Jewish Gifts in general and specifically Shabbat Candlesticks including the following:

Handmade Wooden Candlesticks
Modern Shabbat Candlesticks
Crystal Candlesticks with Swarovski Crystals
Pillar Candlesticks
Shabbat Candlesticks
Large Crystal Candlesticks

Jewish Gifts Calendar

The Jewish calendar year, which begins with the month of Tishrei (from mid to late September) has certain periods in which gift giving coincides with the particular seasons. During the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur many types of gifts are given, especially gifts of food and wine, as well for the home. As these holidays usually fall during or after the September Equinox, the holidays usher in the Autumn season, and gifts of harvest related items, including paintings, pottery, and other art work are very good gift ideas. These holidays are also deeply tied to religion; and a number of Jewish jewelry gift items, including amulets and Judaica items make excellent gifts.

Almost immediately following the Yom Kippur fast is the eight day festival of Sukkot. Sukkot is a harvest festival, making items dealing with seasonal produce as well as artwork excellent gift ideas. When visiting friends and relatives during this period, especially during the interim Chol Hamoed days, gifts of wine and house wares as well as seasonal fruits are smart gift ideas.

Following Sukkot, the next big gift giving festival is the eight day festival of Hanukkah, occurring during the Hebrew month of Kislev which falls during the month of December. Hanukkah is definitely a children's festival, which means any type of gifts for children, from infants to teenagers, are appropriate. Since Hanukkah is also called "Chag Hanurim" or Festival of Lights, giving gifts such as eight candled Hanukkah Menorahs and Dreidels, both excellent seasonal gift ideas. Some excellent examples of handmade Menorahs can be found in the Judaica gifts section of our site.

Tu-Bishvat is a mid-winter festival following Hanukkah celebrating the new year of the trees and, in fact, Tu-Bishvat is called the Festival of Trees in English and gifts of nuts and dried fruit, as well as seasonal citrus fruit make excellent gifts. Since Tu-Bishvat is actually the "Birthday of Trees" any kind of gift relating to trees, nature and wildlife is an excellent gift ideas.

Purim is the next gift giving festival, and falls on the Hebrew month of Adar (late February to mid-March). Like Hanukkah, Purim is a fun holiday for kids and children often give what is called in Hebrew "Mishloah Manot" which are gift parcels of sweets and small toys.

A month after Purim, in the Hebrew month of Nisan, is the festival of Pesach or Passover. Passover is a very special season for gift giving; especially gift parcels with "Kosher for Passover" foods and wines as well as gifts for the home. Like Rosh Hashanah, Passover is a big gift giving season.

The last important gift giving festival of the Jewish year is the holiday of Shavuot which occurs six weeks after Passover in the month of Sivan, usually early June. Shavuot is a harvest festival as well as a religious one, and is also referred to as "Bikurim" (first fruits), making gifts of seasonal produce and flowers very appropriate; as well as artwork. Gifts of dairy products, such as fine cheese, wines and dairy foods are also very good gift ideas, since many people eat only dairy products during this holiday. Shavuot is the religious holiday that marks the time when the Children of Israel were given the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Gifts with a religious motif, including Jewish Gifts and Judaica are very appropriate.

The last gift giving festival of the Jewish Year is called "Tu-Be Av" which occurs in late summer during the Hebrew month of Av, is actually the Jewish "festival of love". Any kind of gift with a romantic flavor, as found in our sites, including Handmade Jewelry, Heart Jewelry, Gifts for Her and Gifts for Him are a very good place to look.

Happy Holidays