The youthful love, since times of yore

Eleazar be-Rabbi Qillir

7th Century

First blessing: “Shield”

The youthful love, since times of yore– may it be bound up forever with the couple getting married today!

Let them rejoice greatly in their bridal canopy; may [God], the beloved, intensify their happy joy.

Clothe them in raiment of splendor and glory,

and then the maiden will happily dance.

Wrap a garland of success around their heads,

and may their wedding be joy, gladness and joy.

May they be banded with good things, with fruit of produce,

and straight blessings be brought upon them,

that they be uplifted like a garden with saplings,

and blessed with seed, like Rachel and Leah.

As it is written: And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said: “We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel; and do thou worthily in Ephrath, and be famous in Bethlehem” (Ruth 4:11).

And it is said: Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of thy house, thy children like olive plants, round about thy table (Psalms 128:3).

And it is said: But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18).

And it is said: And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf doth not wither; and in whatsoever he doeth he shall prosper (Psalms 1:3).

Prosper forever our progeny, our saplings,

and do not let us stray from You.

As long ago, plant us in the joy of Your Temple,

and with Your mighty shield, shield us!

Blessed are You O Lord, Shield of Abraham.

Second Blessing: “Resurrects the Dead”

May they be glad and happy with the fruit of their loins,

and sprout true saplings in their bridal canopy.

May they shine like the light in their faces’ expression,

and forever may they build and succeed.

Let their fruit be fecund like the [Israelites] in Egypt,

their blossoms grow great like a cedar in the Lebanon.

She who is established in her bridal canopy–may he lose himself with love for her,

and may he study [the Torah, which is] wider than the sea.

May he spread his roots and branches in the land.

May your name become famous in the land!

May you rejoice and be glad with intense joy,

and your dynasty be made like that of Perez!

As it is written: And let thy house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman ( R ut h 4:1 2).

And it is said: And thy renown went forth among the nations for thy beauty; for it was perfect, through My splendor which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God (Ezekiel 16:14).

A lovely hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; With her love be thou ravished always (Proverbs 5:19).

For he said unto Judah: “Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He hath given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered (2 Chronicles 14:6).

Prospered they in all business dealings,

and in all that was given to them.

So may the bride and groom prosper,

and resurrecting dew be given to them!

Blessed are You O Lord, who resurrects the dead. [ . . . ]

May the heart of the treasured nation be glad and joyous, because the time of redemption has been hastened! May she [the nation] rejoice and be happy with happiness and gladness and be called “prominent nation.” And just as when a young man espouses a maiden, so may the children of the exile espouse her; and just like a groom’s happiness over a bride, may [God] be happy with her, with total love. And as in times of yore, may her land be called espoused, when You exterminate all evildoers, and You open the locked entrance to the garden, to sprout righteousness and praise for her, to bring bandages and healing for her wound, to remove all sickness from her, and to clean all guile from her gates. Her bridal canopy will be called the House of Prayer, when You reveal Yourself, O You who are awesome in Your deeds, to give her gladness, with the gladness of groom and bride,

O living and enduring one, awesome and lofty and holy!

Translated by Gabriel Wasserman.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 3: Encountering Christianity and Islam.