Jewish House Blessing, Jewish Blessing for the Home, Hebrew Blessing for the Home, Hamsa Home Blessing Wall Decoration
What is a home blessing? A home blessing is a specialized piece of art which showcases a blessing over the inhabitants of the home. These blessings can be found in many homes in Israel as well as Jewish homes around the world. Great as gifts at housewarming parties or for any family who has moved, these art pieces truly inspire a positive and peaceful household and home. Often in the shapes customarily associated with good luck, such as hamsas, the home blessing art pieces can be large or small, metal, ceramic, glass or wood. They are usually colorful and can feature Jewish motifs and themes like pomegranates, trees of life, or simply decorative elements like flowers. There is a home blessing style to fit each and every home.
What blessings are customary to put in a Jewish home?
Some of the blessings customarily found on the home blessing art in Jewish homes include wishes of peace, prosperity, happiness, holiness, and health. In addition, you can find more specific blessings, such as: the presence of god in the home, Nachos (a Hebrew and Yiddish word for pride and gratification over ones family's achievements), study of Torah in the home, joy and happiness, good luck, peace and restfulness, ect. They often also mention things that are wished away from the homes, negative situations or emotions that should not be found in the home, such as grief, trouble, fear, and conflict.
The blessing is traditionally hung next to the door or window, symbolizing the special space protected by these blessings. Some also consider it a great way to ward off evil spirits who might seek to cause strife or problems of other sorts in the home. In addition, by the door it serves the purpose of reminding those who enter how the household of how this home wants to work. The positive note by the entry does part of the work itself putting people in the right mood to be peaceful, restful and happy.
Birkat HaBayit (blessing of the home) now comes in many customized variations, but one of the most common and traditional verses is this:
בְּזֶה הַשַּׁעַר לֹא יָבוֹא צַעַר.
בְּזֹאת הַדִּירָה לֹא תָבוֹא צָרָה.
בְּזֹאת הַדֶּלֶת לֺא תָבוֹא בֶּהָלָה.
בְּזֹאת הַמַּחְלָקָה לֺא תָבוֹא מַחְלוֺקֶת.
בְּזֶה הַמָּקוֺם תְּהִי בְרָכָה וְשָׁלוֺם.
In this gate will not come sadness.
In this apartment, no trouble shall dwell
In this door will not enter fear
Let there be no conflict in this space
May this home be filled with blessing and peace.
B’zeh hasha’ar lo yavo tza’ar
B’zot hadirah lo tavo tzara
B’zot hadellet lo tavo behallah
B’zot hamachlaka lo tavo machloket
B’zeh hamakom tehi bracha v’shalom.
The source of the home blessings tradition is unknown, however, one of the earliest versions we know of is attributed to Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, a 1925 Hungarian amulet to protect the home against plague. It has a long tradition in the Jewish world and is a lovely custom, appropriate for any home at all. Certainly, any home could benefit from some extra blessing.
The beautifully rich world of tradition that comes with the Jewish home has somewhere along the way created this warm and lovely custom, a gem which can be appreciated by any home. Give your home's character a boost by having this by the door, or give it to a loved one as a gift, a wish for all things good in their home.
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