The Shir Lamaalot

As is explained here, it is customary to hang a Shir LaMaalot (Psalm 121) in the room of the new mother and the newborn immediately upon the expectant mother’s arrival at the hospital.

Click here for a printable Shir Lamaalot card.

Click here for the text of Psalm 121.

Join the Discussion

Sort By:

NewestOldest

7 Comments

Chaya July 22, 2021

This is so appreciated but it is also confusing. Why is it written as La instead of Ha and why does it seem to only be listed as a protection just for boys (bris)? (We might know why but others might think only boys are allowed to be protected in Judaism.) Could it be re-filed or organized for *any* mother/birth? (Some people may not know the gender in advance, so you could perhaps see how it could be misconstrued or raise questions.) I was going to send the link to someone expecting, I can see now how they never would have found it the way it is written and listed now. Kol Tov Reply

Rabbi EK for Chabad.org July 25, 2021

in response to Chaya:

Thank you for your feedback.

One commentary notes that the "La" is only for poetic purposes in this chapter. Yet others note this is future tense.

For your friend you can send the following link:

Regarding the search results etc I am not sure what you put in. But it can be that this subject is noted more than once on our site and the algorithms pick up certain one and not the others. Reply

Anonymous April 21, 2018

Hi I hope you’re well. Can you please provide the reason behind this tradition? Would love to know more about it. Thanks so much! Reply

Anonymous November 14, 2012

Hospital Thanks, I forgot to take the Shir Hama'alos with me to the hospital, got someone to fax it to the hospital from Chabad.org. Reply

Nimal Colombo, Sri Lanka July 17, 2011

SHIR HAMAALOS I praise and thank Almighty God for showing me this lovely website as my daughter is getting ready to give birth to her second child. I am so happy to find this website and to learn how our Hebrew brothers and sisters depend on the Almighty God at this very important time of their lives. Shalom. Praise God. Reply

CS June 5, 2006

You people are amazaing that you have this posted. Reply

Anonymous LKWD, NJ January 29, 2006

BRIS SHIR HAMAALOS Its the night before my sons bris milah and i want to thank u for being the only website that had the shir hamaalos to print for the baby's cradle...thank you! Tizku lmitzvos! Reply

More in this section

You may also be interested in...

Join the Discussion