Blessing for Juneteenth
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, she'asah nisim la'avoteinu v'la'imoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.
On this Juneteenth, we remember and honor the end of Black chattel slavery in the United States. We give thanks for the resilience and strength of our ancestors, who endured unimaginable hardships and fought for freedom and dignity. We recognize the work that still needs to be done to achieve true equality and justice for all.
May we be inspired by Juneteenth's spirit of liberation and the pursuit of justice. Let us commit ourselves to the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality, guided by the principles of righteousness and loving-kindness.
As we celebrate this day, we pray for the strength to stand against oppression, the wisdom to seek justice, and the compassion to build a world where all people are free and treated with dignity and respect.
Amen.
Thank you Rabbi Lawson for this beautiful piece.
Elizabeth Biele