Shalom! Honoring your wife. Judaism has a very beautiful tradition that Sabbath on Friday evenings, men recite Proverbs Chapter 31 to their wives. So if you have a Bible, go find Proverbs Chapter 31 or get it online and you will see it's a beautiful proverb, it's also often read at the funerals of old Jewish ladies. And just to tell you a little bit about it, I mean, I will recite a little bit of it, you can get the flavor of it.
It's called Eshet Chayil in Hebrew; sometimes translated as a woman of valor or a good wife. A good wife who can find? Her worth as far above rubies. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and nothing shall he lack. She rendered him good and not evil all the days of her life. She is robed in strength and dignity, and cheerfully faces whatever may come. Her tongue is guided by kindness, her mouth with wisdom. She extends her hand to the poor and eats not the bread of idleness. Her children come forward and bless her. Her husband too, and he praises her. Many women have done superbly, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a God-fearing woman is much to be praised. Place before her the fruit of her hands. Wherever people gather, her deeds speak her praise.
Eshet Chayil means song and there is a little tool to it too to learn the Hebrew Eshet Chayil means -- that's kind of how the tune that goes with the proverb that I learned anyway for Eshet Chayil, beautiful tune.
Now for honoring our Friday nights, we put our hands on our son's head and say, Y'simeyh Elohim k'efra-yim v'hi-mena-sheh. Now who were Ephraim and Manasseh? Well, they were the grandsons of Jacob and the Torah says that when Jacob came down with his entourage, the Egypt where Joseph’s had been living and they reconciled and then Jacob welcomes his two grandsons and he blesses them by saying them and you should bless the Jewish boys after this, of Israel with this prayer. And then we add the priestly benediction, Y'varech'cha Adonai v'yishm'recha, May God bless you and keep you. Ya'eir Adonai panav eleicha vi'huneka, May God lift up God’s countenance and be graces on to you. Yisa Adonai panav elecha v'yaseim l'cha shalom, May God lift up God's countenance to you and grant you a life of peace.
Now for girls -- and another question is why do we say Ephraim and Manasseh? Well, one of the old stories is that because they were the first two brothers who didn't fight in the Bible. Kane and Abel of course, Kane killed Abel and then we have no one as brothers and these brothers were skeptical. At first they have been the Family within the Arch. Then you have the story of Abraham and his brothers who left -- one of his brothers died and then you have Isaac and Ishmael didn't get along. And you had Jacob and Esau the next generation, they didn't get along and then you had of course, Joseph and his brothers didn't get along. The first generation of Jewish boys, brothers who got along were Ephraim and Manasseh.
And for girls we say, May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. Y'simeyh Elohim K'sara, rivka, rachel v'leya, May god make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. And then you use the priestly benediction. And it's a beautiful family time. You have been in a meeting of family like that, to offer a blessing to your spouse or your significant other and for your children and it's a beautiful way to begin the Sabbath.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services