In the traditional Jewish liturgy, a man thanks God daily for not having been made a gentile, a woman, or a slave. Yoel Kahn traces the history of this prayer from its extra-Jewish origins to the present, demonstrating how different generations and communities understood the significance of these words.Marginalized and persecuted groups used this prayer to mark the boundary between "us" and "them," affirming their own identity and sense of purpose. After the medieval Church seized and burned books it considered offensive, new, coded formulations of the three blessings emerged as forms of spiritual resistance. Book owners voluntarily expurgated the passage to save the books from being destroyed, creating new language and meaning while seeking to preserve the structure and message of the received tradition. During the Renaissance, Jewish women defied their rabbis and declared their gratitude at being "made a woman and not a man." And, as Jewish emancipation began in the nineteenth century, Jews again had to balance fealty to historical practice with their place in the world. Seeking to be recognized as modern and European, early modern Jews rewrote the liturgy to suit modern sensibilities and identified themselves with the Christian West against the historical pagan and the uncivilized infidel.The Three Blessings is an insightful and wide-ranging study of one of the most controversial Jewish prayers, showing its constantly evolving language, usage, and interpretation over the past 2,000 years.

Inspired by her book Motherprayer: Lessons in Loving, Barbara Mahany presents The Blessings of Motherprayer a lovely gift book featuring wisps of inspirational writings to carry you through the day, the hour, and whatever comes your way. The book is a patchwork quilt of inspiration and prayer, with a smidge of recipes. These meditative notes on mothering magnify the wonders and wisdoms of loving with a wide-open heart. They reveal that no matter which way you look at the motherhood role and parenthood, it is essential that every stitch along this broadcloth of hope, faith, and unwavering trust be knotted with and held firm by prayer. The devotional is rich in reminders to slow time, and savor the blessing of each and every hour of each and every season of mothering, be it the rare quietude of time alone, or amid the cacophony of the daily bustle. Discover powerful quotes, heart-scripted prayer, and stories that invite you to pay attention, cradle your loved ones in prayer, and see the sacred lessons in loving. Be inspired to view life through a magnifying lens in search of God, to probe the nooks and crannies of our everyday, and find opportunities to infuse and focus on the holy in our extraordinary ordinary day-to-day.

Barbara Mahany writes, “Mothering was my crash course in love. Love of the sort I call Divine. Love in the way we yearn to be loved: Without end. Without question. Without giving in to exhaustion. Love with a big and boundless heart. Love with eyes and ears—and soul—wide open. Love even when it’s not so easy.” In Motherprayer, Mahany generously shares personal love letters on the mysteries and gifts of mothering, interspersed with family recipes and gentle essays, all offering beautiful lessons in how to love, and how to love well. In her bracingly honest style, she captures the ephemeral moments of motherhood—the hard, the glorious, the laughter, and the tears—and invites readers to pay attention, cradle our loved ones in prayer, and see the sacred lessons in loving. These stirring meditations bring into sharp focus one essential question: How do we love breathtakingly?

In the traditional Jewish liturgy, a man thanks God daily for not having been made a gentile, a woman, or a slave. Yoel Kahn traces the history of this prayer from its extra-Jewish origins to the present, demonstrating how different generations and communities understood the significance of these words. Marginalized and persecuted groups used this prayer to mark the boundary between "us" and "them," affirming their own identity and sense of purpose. After the medieval Church seized and burned books it considered offensive, new, coded formulations of the three blessings emerged as forms of spiritual resistance. Book owners voluntarily expurgated the passage to save the books from being destroyed, creating new language and meaning while seeking to preserve the structure and message of the received tradition. During the Renaissance, Jewish women defied their rabbis and declared their gratitude at being "made a woman and not a man." And, as Jewish emancipation began in the nineteenth century, Jews again had to balance fealty to historical practice with their place in the world. Seeking to be recognized as modern and European, early modern Jews rewrote the liturgy to suit modern sensibilities and identified themselves with the Christian West against the historical pagan and the uncivilized infidel. The Three Blessings is an insightful and wide-ranging study of one of the most controversial Jewish prayers, showing its constantly evolving language, usage, and interpretation over the past 2,000 years.

Reeling from the loss of a lifetime has brought her to the cliffs of Lake Superior to let her heart run free. A long arduous journey of rediscovery had landed her here. And on this extraordinary day, she would have a serendipitous encounter with an old man who carried pockets full of field corn, that changed the course of her life. An encounter that taught her the truest meaning of love, how to keep her memories warm, and most profoundly, gave her heart the courage to find its way home. Based on the story of an journey of personal triumph over incredible loss through love, laughter, serendipity, and the most amazing red "lady shoes".

Blessings for Family & Friends is a comprehensive study of the concept of biblical blessing with a wide array of sample blessings that can be used for all occasions. This book empowers those who wish to incorporate the powerful biblical concept of blessing into their family life to do so with ease and confidence. Blessings drawn from Holy Scripture and from Jewish and Christian tradition make it possible for families to receive biblical blessings for wives, husbands, children, and all other family and extended family members. Blessings for Family & Friends will introduce a new and exciting dimension to your family life that will be spiritually uplifting and socially developmental through positive reinforcement and personal encouragement.