WHEN I FIRST HELD YOU

היום בו נולדת
הוא היום בו החליט הקב”ה
שהעולם אינו יכול להתקיים בלעדיך

The day you were born
is the day God decided
that the world could not exist without you.
~ Rabbi Nachman of Breslov*

WHEN I FIRST HELD YOU
a lullaby from Israel
by Mirik Snir
illustrated by Eleyor Snir
translated from Hebrew by Mary Jane Shubow

When I First Held You speaks a message which every child should have impressed on their heart from the time they are conceived – that they are not only cherished but celebrated.

On the day you were born (conceived)… mountains  bowed, moonbeams blessed, clouds danced, sunbeams sent love… As the sages tell us in the Talmud – and as any parent will most definitely agree – “With every child the world begins anew.”

This sweet book with its simple words and caressing illustrations creates a lasting image of a message that the Sages of Israel have long taught – that each person created by G-d’s love is a world unto himself / herself with a uniqueness and a purpose of their own.

A gentle book for the very young but with a message that should be repeated to every child at every age.

You can purchase this book – with it’s priceless message – from Amazon.com When I First Held You: A Lullaby from Israel (Kar-Ben Favorites)

* As translated in the book. I have read the following translation in other places and prefer the slight change of decided to declared and exist to preserved. Both these slight word changes more clearly express the essence of this lullaby.

The day on which you were born,
that is the day on which God declared
that the world could not be preserved without you.

~ Review by Cindy