Part of Chava’s punishment is (Breisheet 3:16): “I will
greatly increase your suffering (itzvonech) and your pregnancy (heronech). You
will give birth to children with pain (be’etzev teldi vanim)…”
According to the Gemara in Eruvin 100b, the word
“itzvonceh”, your suffering, refers to the anguish of raising children, The
word “heronceh”, your pegnancy, refers to the pain of pregnancy. The words
“be’etzev teldi vanim”, you will give birth to children with pain, refers to
the pain of childbirth.
In Breisheet Raba 20:6 the word “vanim” is explained as the
anguish of raising children.
Once the babies are born, we spend the rest of our lives
raising them.
Many women say extra prayers and techinot when they are
pregnant and/or in labor but it is important to pray for our children when we
are raising them as well.
It says in the Gemara in Shabbat 23b: Rav Huna said: One who
is habitual in lighting the light (candles) will have sons who are Torah
scholars.
Rashi comments that in Mishlei, Proverbs 6:23 it says “For
the commandment is a lamp and the Torah is light.” By observing the mitzvah of
lighting Shabbat and Chanuka candles one brings the light of Torah into the
world.
In Mishlei 20:27 we
read: “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord”.
The Midrash in Tanchuma states that Chava extinguished
Adam’s “candle” by giving him the fruit to eat.
By lighting the Shabbat candles, the woman is making a
tikkun (correction) for Chava’s mistake and turning the lights back on.
Many women add the following prayer after lighting Shabbat
candles:
May it be Your will Hashem, my God and God of my
forefathers, that you will show favor to me and all of my relatives; and that
you grant us and all of Israel a good and long life; that you remember us with
beneficent memory and blessing; that you consider us with a consideration of
salvation and compassion; that you bless us with great blessings; that you make
our households complete; that You cause Your presence to dwell among us.
Privilege me to raise children and grandchildren who are wise and
understanding, who love Hashem and fear God, people of truth, holy offspring,
attached to Hashem, who illuminate the world with Torah and good deeds and with
every labor and service to the Creator. Please hear my supplication at this
time, in the merit of Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah and cause our light to
illuminate and not be extinguished forever and let our countenance shine so
that we are saved, Amen.
