by Rabbi David Woznica
May 14th is Mother’s Day. The first Mother’s Day celebration in the United States began about 100 years ago. Wikipedia defines it as “a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.”
As Jews, our first “mother” was Sarah. Her name means “Princess” and the Talmud suggests that she could see the future. Sarah is further described as a woman free of sin and deeply modest. The classic rabbinic work, Genesis Rabbah, teaches Abraham spread Godliness among the men of Israel, while Sarah did so among the Israelite women. So highly did our sages think of Sarah they wrote the greatest blessing Abraham ever merited and received was to be married to her.
Mother’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to express gratitude to your mother and ultimately to God for having given her to you. And, if your mother is no longer living, take a private moment in prayer to thank her and God for all the good she brought you. And if the relationship was complicated, then take some time to give or offer forgiveness. May we all merit being our mother’s children.
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