Yesterday I received an email from Artscroll, an Orthodox publishing house, with a prayer to be recited over one’s children on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the evening before the new month of Sivan begins. The email explains that since the Jews received the Torah in the month of Sivan, and thus became God’s children, this is an appropriate time to pray to God for “good and upright children.”
The the text of the prayer is terrifically long – three pages in single spaced, small font. (I think I would first have to pray for the time to recite such a long prayer….) Not surprisingly, there are quite a few sections that don’t quite align with my deepest hopes for my children. Artscroll has never really been my cup of tea. First of all, their translations always refer to God as Hashem, which I can no longer read without recalling the time a non-Jewish friend mispronounced it as hash-em, as in “What would you like me to do with these potatoes?” Their children’s books tend to be a stunning combination of didactic text and unattractive pictures, with titles that seem like they are from another era altogether – When Moshiach Comes, Donny and Deeny Kteeny, and Mitzvos We Can Do! (We’re definitely more of a Jewish Lights kind of family, collecting up all of their warmly illustrated, completely groovy, rabbinically penned but nearly ecumenical, books about God.)
First of all, the Artscroll prayer for children contains several references to their “mates.” While I do hope that my children will grow to find life partners and create families, the word “mate” conjours up images of dogs humping. Or Australians. But definitely not my four and five year old daughters.
The prayer goes on to ask of God (I mean, Hashem): “May they serve you with love, and true, internalized fear of heaven, not merely apparent fear.” Agreed, yirat hashamayim, or fear of God, is probably a good thing. I’m sure it would be of particular value come adolescence. But when I think about nurturing my young daughters’ emerging relationships with the Divine, fear (and REAL fear, not pretend fear, damn it) is not the top quality I’m aiming for. Instead, I’m working on some combination of intimacy, wonder, and gratitude, with a touch of duty for good measure.
On some days, I think we’re getting close. There was the time Ella started whispering out the car window, and later reported that she was asking God to please make her big enough to take ballet lessons, or Zoe’s stock answer to the question “who made you so cute?” But there are other days, when we’re doing an errand on shabbat, or when we neglect to say brachot before eating, that I think I’d be doing a much better job at this whole home-shuling thing if I were a little more Artscroll, and a little less Jewish Lights.
Thanks for the reminder! Do you mind if I do a blog post inspired by yours? I’ll link to you, of course.:)
Oh, of course, go right ahead!
“But there are other days, when we’re doing an errand on shabbat, or when we neglect to say brachot before eating, that I think I’d be doing a much better job at this whole home-shuling thing if I were a little more Artscroll, and a little less Jewish Lights.”
Please repeat after me: Judaism is NOT all or nothing.
The best thing is that you can be a little bit Artscroll and a little bit Jewish Lights and a LOT yourself. Sounds like you’re doing a great job making conscious, relevant choices.
I think awe is a better translation than fear. Not perfect either.
Ditto to what Phyllis said!!!
No one segmemt of our community has the right to co-opt Judaism and leave the rest out in the cold.
Jewish observance should be vibrant and organic and fluid. Where you are today is not where you once were and should not be where you will one day find yourself.
Instead of thinking about what you are and are not doing, take Martin Buber’s approach. He once defined “kodesh” and “chol” not as holy and profane but as holy and not-yet-holy.
I love my readers!
I struggle with this all the time, too. I think you frame the question and the beginning-of-an-answer so beautifully here (and your readers also!) I find it a challenge to take seriously the idea that Torah (in the broadest sense) speaks to all times, while also knowing the traditional context – so that “yirah” can authentically mean (for me, for my conversations with my child) something like “awe” or “wonder.” I don’t always make it to that place. I’m glad I’m not on my own trying!
I agree with mother in Israel. Awe is a better translation and much closer meaning than fear.
Hi, my 7-year old son (who is usually very outgoing and independent) has developed huge separation anxiety issues – to the point that I have to stay with him at school during the day. He has started play therapy, which is helping. I have noticed that he finds it very calming if we say the Shema together in the morning before we leave for school, and I then add my own prayer about being brave, having courage and confidence and conquering our fears. I am looking for a more “formal” prayer that we can read together every morning, but haven’t found anything that is relevant and/or appropriate. Any suggestions?
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