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Greetings!
Today, the eve of the new Jewish month of Sivan, is a special time to recite a prayer for children (your actual or future children... or just Jewish children in general). Of course, praying any heartfelt prayer for children is great at any time, but there is a special prayer composed by the Shelah HaKadosh for which he said that the optimal time to recite this prayer is Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
Why Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan? Because it is in the month of Sivan (the 6th) when Hashem gave the Torah to the Jewish People; and with the giving of the Torah, the Jewish People were referred to as "HaShem's Children." So as we enter the month where we become HaShem's children, we pray for our own children. The Shelah HaKodesh writes that on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, parents should recite this prayer, give charity to the poor, and if possible, fast. (Fasting is actually a custom for the very pious every Erev Rosh Chodesh, which is also called Yom Kippur Katan; and similar to Yom Kippur, it is a special time for doing teshuva.)
Along the same line, and as I shared in the newsletter last week, the Lubavitcher Rebbe emphsized the importance of this time of year as it relates to our children.
Here's an excerpt from the Rebbe's Sicha (Discourse) from Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 5740 (1980): "...'Our children are our guarantors.' Hence, now is a proper time and place for educators, and most importantly fathers and mothers, to take upon themselves good resolutions; to use the time between now and Shavuos, - the season of the giving of our Torah, - to speak to children, both boys and girls, about the importance of Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the days of preparation for the giving of the Torah, the holiday of Shavuos itself, and its days of compensation - which last through the twelfth of Sivan. In general, they should speak to the children about the giving of the Torah, explaining to them what Torah is, that it is the Torah of Life, the Torah of Kindness, and the Torah of Truth. The children must be explained that they were the guarantors, in whose merit, the Torah was given initially after the Jews left Egypt. Likewise, it is their merit which causes the Torah to be given each year, - in the season of the giving of our Torah, - and also each day, as our Sages commented, "Each day (the words of Torah) should be new in your eyes.'..."
The Rebbe also urged everyone to be sure to come to shul - men, women, and most of all children - and hear the reading of the 10 Commandments from the Torah. With this in mind, I look forward to seeing you all there at the reading of the Torah, and at our own virtual Har Sinai, on Shavuot, Wednesday 5/19 (and Thursday 5/20) morning, as we receive the Torah together once again, as one. |
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Tefillas HaShelah HaKadosh - A Prayer for Our Children | |
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