Chief Rabbi issues new prayer to honour women ahead of Simchat Torah

A new prayer has been issued by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis honouring women who make an “outstanding contribution” to the community at this time of year.

The blessing has been created for women chosen as the ‘Eishet Chayil’ (woman of valour). They are recognised together with men selected as the ‘Chatan Torah’ and ‘Chatan Bereishit’, which signifies the end of the reading of the Torah and the beginning of a new cycle.

Chief Rabbi Mirvis’ new prayer, which has been sent to rabbis across the country, will be read either on Simchat Torah next week, or on Shavuot, depending on each community’s custom.

The prayer says the female recipient “faithfully makes an outstanding contribution of great value to our community” and that she may “continue to perform outstanding deeds”.

The prayer in full:

He who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, And our mothers, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, May He bless (Insert name here) who faithfully makes an outstanding contribution of great value to our community and who has been honoured with the title ‘Eishet Chayil’ on this holy day. Almighty God, may You bless her and all her family, And may she continue to perform outstanding deeds before You with virtue and grace. May You send blessing and success for all her future endeavours. And so may this be Your will, And let us say Amen.