This post presents the blessing for lighting the Shabbat candles on Friday night, both in its traditional format (i.e. with masculine God-language) and using feminine God-language, an option that reflects the blend of Jewish tradition with modern feminist approaches. The feminine version not only refers to God using the feminine Hebrew conjugations, but also replaces the term “King of the World” with “Spirit of the World,” which has a more spiritual and less patriarchal tone.
The texts appear in Hebrew, English, and transliteration, along with vocal recordings by Rabbi Margot Stein, a Reconstructionist rabbi, musician, cantor, and educator. To read personal descriptions from several contributors of their families’ special candle lighting customs, see the original article. This source is from Ritualwell.org, a project of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College that provides a platform for creating new Jewish practices and observances.
Feminine God-Language:
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁתְנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶיהָ וְצִוָּתְנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת
Berukhah At Yah Eloyheynu Ruakh Ha’olam, asher kideshatnu bemitzvoteha vetzivatnu lehadlik ner shel Shabbat.
You are Blessed, O God, Spirit of the World, who makes us holy with mitzvot and commands us to kindle the light of Shabbat.
Masculine God Language:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת
Barukh Atah Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha’olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel Shabbat.
You are Blessed, O God, King of the World, who makes us holy with mitzvot and commands us to kindle the light of Shabbat.