Why not bring a piece of evolving Judaism into your week? Each Torah portion is so rich with so much to share! These small shabbat rituals are meant to be just a taste of Torah to connect with on Shabbat. Enjoy for yourself, or share at a Shabbat table near you.
The simplified story of Noach goes like this: the earth was full of bad people. God chose Noach and his family to build an ark, survive the flood that would destroy the lawless people and repopulate the earth. Noach was instructed to take 2 of every animal with him on the ark so that they too would flourish once the flood was over. There are many lessons that can be taken from the story of Noach about righteousness and caring for the earth. For this week’s shabbat ritual, let us bless the animals that surround us. You may like animals, or not, but they all play a role in our world.
Shabbat ritual: Celebrate Parshat Noah by blessing the animals in your life!
Blessing for Cats
Yesimcha Elohim keyehudah ha-aryeh
May God make you like the Lion of Judah
Blessing for Dogs
Yesimcha Elohim kekalev ha-ne’eman
May God make you like Caleb, the loyal one
Blessings for other Animals
הֵ֜מָּה וְכָל־הַֽחַיָּ֣ה לְמִינָ֗הּ וְכָל־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ וְכָל־הָרֶ֛מֶשׂ הָרֹמֵ֥שׂ עַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וְכָל־הָע֣וֹף לְמִינֵ֔הוּ כֹּ֖ל צִפּ֥וֹר כָּל־כָּנָֽף׃
They, and every beast after its kind, and every domestic animal after its kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every fowl after its kind, every bird of every wing. (Genesis 7:14)
יִֽהְי֥וּ לְרָצ֨וֹן ׀ אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃
Yiheyu l’ratzon imrei fi, imrei fi, V’hegyon libi lifanecha Adonai tzuri, Adonai tzuri, Adonai tzuri vego’ali.
May our words and thoughts be accepted by God (Psalm 19:15)
Printable sourcesheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/46581