This is an archive of prayers composed for, or relevant to, יוֹם הָאֵם Yom ha-Ém (“Mother’s Day”). The Jewish population of the State of Israel used to celebrate Mother’s Day on the 30th of the month of Shevat, which falls between January 30th and March 1st. The celebration was set as the same date that Henrietta Szold died (13 February 1945). Henrietta had no biological children, but her organization Youth Aliyah rescued many Jewish children from Nazi Germany and provided for them. She also championed children’s rights. Szold is considered the “mother” of all those children, and that is why her yahrẓeit (annual remembrance day) was set as Mother’s Day.

The holiday has evolved over time, becoming a celebration of mutual love inside the family, called Family Day (יוֹם הַמִשְּפָּחָה, Yom ha-Mishpaḥah). This holiday is mainly celebrated in preschools with an activity to which parents are invited. Mother’s Day is mainly celebrated by children at kindergartens. There are no longer mutual gifts among members of the family, and there is no longer any commercialization of the celebration. It is not an official holiday.

☞ If you have composed a prayer for Mother’s Day, please share it.

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Looking for something else?

For prayers offered composed for, or relevant to, Mother’s Day in the United States, go here.

For prayers composed for, or relevant to, International Women’s Day, go here.