So much of what we do is modeled after the actions of our Avos and Imahos HaKedoshim. Additionally, so many of our tefilos draw on the fact that we are their children – direct descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov; of Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah. As we have been delving into the parshios of Sefer Beraishis and learning about their lives all over again, I thought it would be a fitting time to highlight a prayer that emphasizes this exact point.
Immediately following candle lighting, as the radiant glow of Shabbos begins to envelope the home and all those within its walls, a short prayer is uttered for the success and wellbeing of the household. As tefilos for our families go, this is certainly one of the most eloquent of them, and is said at one of the most auspicious and opportune moments that is available to us here in this world. Outside, darkness is setting in and the workweek is coming to a close – a week of activity, a week of growth… a tiring week. But as the sun goes down, a new day is being ushered in – the day for which we toiled the entire week, a day of rest and serenity – Shabbos Kodesh has arrived.
As we know, the Shabbos candles represent peace and tranquility, both of which can only be bestowed on the world by Hashem Himself. However, at this moment, Jewish women across the globe bring in the day of kedushah and taharah by kindling that very light – a Divine light that cannot be confined by the world of the mundane and impure. They do so just as their mothers did before them; a custom that traces itself all the way back to Sarah Imeinu. And in this week’s parsha, Chayei Sarah, we see Rivkah Imeinu carrying on this same tradition as she makes her first Shabbos in Sarah’s tent.
Therefore, as we kindle our Shabbos candles, we call upon the merits of our Imahos. We ask Hashem to bless our children with the same attributes of wisdom and fortitude that He had granted them in their lifetimes. In this tefilah we pray that our children be able to withstand their tests and illuminate their surroundings just as our טאטעס and מאמעס did so many years ago. The song chosen to accompany this thought is called Vezakeini, and is sung by the always genuine and heartfelt Avraham Fried. This beautiful ballad was composed by Yossi Green and appears on Fried’s 2011 album entitled, Keep Climbing. The song soulfully expresses our fervent hope that Hashem accept our humble tefilos, this week and every week – May it be His will, Amein.
Wishing all of you an illuminating Shabbos!
Lyrics:
וְזַכֵּנִי
לְגַדֵּל
בָּנִים וּבְנֵי בָנִים
בָּנִים, חֲכָמִים, וּנְבוֹנִים
אוֹהֲבֵי הַ’
יִרְאֵי אֱלֹקִים
אַנְשֵי אֱמֶת
אוֹי זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ
בַּהַ’ דְּבֵקִים, וּמְאִירִים אֶת הָעוֹלָם
בַּתּוֹרָה וּבְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים
וּבְכָל מְלֶאכֶת, עֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא
אָנָא שְׁמַע תְּחִינָתִי
בזכות אברהם יצחק ויעקב
די טאטעס, אוי די הייליגע טאטעס
ובזכות שרה רבקה רחל ולאה
די מאמעס, די הייליגע מאמעס
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