Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis Sermons

In My Arms

Birth/Brith by Harold M. Schulweis

In my arms a child is held
a nameless being
possessed of unknown potentialities.

In my arms an infant is held
Upon whom we confer in the presence of her people
A name to be known in Israel as

_____________________ bat ______________________________________________.
Child's Hebrew Name Parents' Hebrew Names

That name includes our own
We are parents and this is our child.
We are forever bound to each other.

In our arms a child is cradled
no stranger thrown into an alien world,
but a human being born into a faith, culture, tradition.
This child belongs to our people.
Upon us, this child has claims
Upon this child, the community has claims.

In our arms, a child is embraced
a child of God,
into whose nostrils the wind of life was breathed
by the spirit of Godliness.

This name is a dream, a hope, an oath
for Torah -- moral wisdom
for Chuppah -- sanctified love
for maasim tovim -- the practice of good deeds.

May the name be a blessing
to her family, her people, and humankind
and to God in whose image this child was created.

* This document, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced without the written permission of the author.

IN MY ARMS

by Harold M. Schulweis (masculine version)

In my arms a child is held
a nameless being
possessed of unknown potentialities.

In my arms an infant is held
Upon whom we confer in the presence of his people
A name to be known in Israel as

_____________________ ben ______________________________________________.
Child's Hebrew Name Parents' Hebrew Names

That name includes our own
We are parents and this is our child.
We are forever bound to each other.

In our arms a child is cradled
no stranger thrown into an alien world,
but a human being born into a faith, culture, tradition.
This child belongs to our people.
Upon us, this child has claims
Upon this child, the community has claims.

In our arms, a child is embraced
a child of God,
into whose nostrils the wind of life was breathed
by the spirit of Godliness.

This name is a dream, a hope, an oath
for Torah -- moral wisdom
for Chuppah -- sanctified love
for maasim tovim -- the practice of good deeds.

May the name be a blessing
to his family, his people, and humankind
and to God in whose image this child was created.

* This document, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced without the written permission of the author.