Birkat HaBayit (, meaning Blessing for the Home) is a

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

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often inscribed on wall plaques or

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s and featured at the entrance of some Jewish homes. There are various versions of the prayer.

Text

In the home, the Birkat Habayit is traditionally hung on the wall next to the front door or next to a window: it is meant to drive any evil spirits out of the house and protect the occupants within. Besides bringing a blessing upon the home, variations from around the world are also seen as brilliant works of art and are often given as housewarming gifts. A Birkat HaEsek (), "Blessing for the Business," is also popular in Israel.

Origin

There are conflicting theories as to the origin of this prayer.

Moshe Teitelbaum

There is a variation of it that appears in an amulet for protection against plague. This amulet is from 1925 and is attributed to Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum.

Modern Hebrew poetry

According to Rabbi

Shlomo Aviner Shlomo Chaim Hacohen Aviner (; born 1943/5703 as ''Claude Langenauer'') is an Israeli Orthodox rabbi. He is the rosh yeshiva (dean) of Ateret Yerushalayim (formerly Ateret Cohanim) and the former rabbi of Beit El, an Israeli settlement. He is co ...

, the style of this prayer is not Jewish, as it has no "Yehi Ratzon" or "Ribbon Ha'Olamim" and does not address God in any way. He postulates that this prayer originates from a poem created by

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much ...

, although there is no proof of this claim.

References

Jewish prayer and ritual texts Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish prayers and blessings {{Judaism-stub

Text

Origin

Moshe Teitelbaum

Modern Hebrew poetry

See also

References