Blessing Children at the Sabbath Table

Parents are in a position to entreat God in prayer for their children in a way that no one else can. Numerous biblical examples show that parents not only have the power to pray, but the power to bless. On Friday evening, it is customary for parents to place blessings upon their children. The traditional blessings invoke the favor of God and the inspiring lives of the ancestors of the Jewish people. This tradition communicates our love for our children and our faith in them; as they grow older they will cherish the memory of hearing these loving words.