“A Blessing for a Proud Home”: When the Anthropologist of Religion Was Tasked with Composing a Prayer

Abstract

Abstract: “A Blessing for Home” is a liturgical prayer text seeking protection against sorrow, troubles, disputes, and disasters within the home. Traditionally, this blessing was often displayed on the wall near the front door or inscribed on decorative items and Judaica. It’s worth noting that this prayer lacks a specific source or a singular version—something that invites creative versions of this prayer. This essay introduces the “Blessing for a Proud Home” and is accompanied by a reflective discussion outlining my rationale as an ethnographer for composing such a prayer. In this discussion, I engage with sociocultural arguments regarding the essence of the prayer and shed light on the process of its creation, drawing from my sources of inspiration and the challenges faced during its composition.