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In 1786,
Giuseppe Coen presented his bride with an exquisite gift: a book of psalms,
blessings, and prayers especially for her. Written in Italian, the compendium
included special prayers for candle-lighting, pregnancy, childbirth, delivery
and recovery, nursing, and the mitzvah of the ritual bath (mikveh).
Rabbi
Nina Beth Cardin, in Out of the Depths I Call to You: A Book of Prayers
for the Married Jewish Woman, translates these prayers and provides
insightful commentary, bringing to light the essence of Jewish women's
liturgical and ritual experiences.
The following
prayer from Coen's 18th century collection, was recited by the nursing
mother as she brought the baby to her breast:
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May
it be your will, Lord my God, and God of my forebears, that You
provide nourishment for Your humble creation, this tiny child, plenty
of milk, as much as [my child]
needs.
Give
me the disposition and inclination to find the time to nurse [my
child]
patiently until [my
child]
be satisfied.
Cause
me to sleep lightly so that the moment [my
child]
cries I will hear and respond.
Spare
me the horror of accidentally smothering my child while I sleep,
God forbid.
May
the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable
to You, my Rock and my Redeemer.
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 Translation
from:
Nina Beth Cardin, ed., tr. Out
Of The Depths I Call To You: A Book Of Prayers For The Married Jewish
Woman. Copyright ©
1995 Jason Aronson, Inc. (Northvale, NJ), p. 110. Reprinted by permission
of the publisher, Jason Aronson, Inc., Northvale, NJ. |
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Rabbi
Nina Beth Cardin, The Tapestry of Jewish Time: A Spiritual Guide
to Holidays and Life-Cycle Events (New York: Behrman House, Inc.
2000). |
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