Jewish Prayers
Jewish Prayer of Healing
Mi Sheberach
May the One who blessed our ancestors —
Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
Matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah —
bless and heal the one who is ill:
________________ son/daughter of ________________ .
May the Holy Blessed One
overflow with compassion upon him/her,
to restore him/her,
to heal him/her,
to strengthen him/her,
to enliven him/her.
May the One send him/her, speedily,
a complete healing —
healing of the soul and healing of the body —
along with all the ill,
among the people of Israel and all humankind,
soon,
speedily,
without delay,
and let us all say: Amen!
Vidui
A Jewish Prayer on Behalf of Another at End of Life
By Rabbi Gilah Langner
(with emendations provided by Rabbi Lynn Liberman, BCC)
(Note: In place of suggested pronoun, feel free to use name of patient.)
Our God and God of our ancestors, we acknowledge that all of life is in Your hands.
We pray for healing for this beloved (man/woman/person.) May (he/she/they) be filled and embraced by a complete and healing love and forgiveness. May (he/she/they) always know how precious (his/her/their) life is to those who love (him/her/them).
Protect (his/her/their) beloved family: ____________________________. Their souls are woven together for all time.
Grant hope and strength to (his/her/their) family and caregivers, guiding their hands and hearts and decisions with wisdom, loving care, and skill.
Ki malakhey yetzaveh lach, lishmorkha b’chol d’rakhekha. May angels be appointed for (him/her/their), to guard (him/her/their) on all (his/her/their) paths.
In Your hand lies (his/her/their) spirit. In Your Great Name, You hold the life and memories of each soul on earth. You redeem us, Adonai, God of Truth.
*Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Ekhad. Hear O Israel: Adonai is our God, Adonai is One. (from Deut. 6:4)
Amen.
*This line is an especially central prayer to those of the Jewish faith. If there is only limited time for prayer, this line alone in the transliterated Hebrew and the English translation is recommended.
Jewish Prayers for Peace, Comfort and Wellbeing
A prayer for Peace at night
Text of the Hashkiveinu prayer (from Mishkan T’filah)
הַשְׁכִּי בֵֽנוּ, יְ אֱלֹ הֵֽנוּ, לְשָׁלוֹם, וְהַעֲמִי דנוּ שׁוֹמְ רֵֽנוּ לְחַיִּים, וּפְרֹשׂ עָ לֵֽנוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹ מֵֽךָ, וְתַקְּ נֵֽנוּ בְּ עצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָ נֵֽךֶָֽ, וְהוֹשִׁי עֵֽנוּ
לְמֵַֽעַן שְׁ מךָ. וְהָ גן בַּעֲ דֵֽנוּ, וְהָ סר מעָ לֵֽינוּ אוֹ יב, דֵּֽ בר, ו חֵֽ רב, וְרָעָב, וְיָגוֹן, וְהָרְ חק מִ מֵּֽנּוּ עָוֹן וָ פֵֽשַׁע. וּבְ צל כְּנָ פֵֽיךָ תַּסְתִּי רֵֽנוּ, כִּי
אל שׁוֹמְ רֵֽנוּ וּמַצִּי לֵֽנוּ אֵָֽתָּה, כִּי אל חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אֵָֽתָּה. וּשְׁמֹר צא תֵֽנוּ וּבוֹ אֵֽנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלֹם מעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם. בָּ רוּךְ אַתָּה יְ,
שׁוֹ מר עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָ אל לָעַד
Grant, O God, that we lie down in peace, and raise us up, our Guardian, to life renewed. Spread over us the shelter of Your peace. Guide us with Your good counsel; for Your Name’s sake, be our help. Shield and shelter us beneath the shadow of Your wings. Defend us against enemies, illness, war, famine and sorrow. Distance us from wrongdoing. For You, God, watch over us and deliver us. For You, God, are gracious and merciful. Guard our going and coming, to life and to peace evermore.
Shecheyanu – A Prayer of Gratitude
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה, אֱלֹ הֵֽינוּ מ לךְ הָעוֹלָם, שׁ החֱיֵָֽינוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִיעָנוּ לַזְמָן הַ זה
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, shehechiyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higianu lazman hazeh.
Blessed are You Eternal Spirit who has given us life, sustained us and allowed us to arrive in this moment.
Shema
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָ אל ה אֱלֹ הינוּ ה אחֵָֽד
She-ma yisrael, adonai eloheinu, adonai echad
Hear O’Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One
Psalm 23
God is my shepherd; I shall not want.
God causes me to lie down in green pastures; God leads me beside still waters.
God restores my soul; God leads me in paths of righteousness for The Holy Ones name’s sake.
Even as I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You set a table before me in the presence of my adversaries; You anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
May only goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of Adonai forever.
A Prayer of Healing
Be with me, God. I feel so lost. I can’t seem to escape the dark cloud that is hanging over me today. Help me, God. Give me strength to combat despair and fear. Show me how to put my pain into perspective. Teach me to have faith in the new day that is coming. Thank you, God, for today’s blessings, for tomorrow’s hope, and for Your abiding love. Amen.
Teach me always to believe in my power to return to life, to hope, and to You, God, no matter what pains I have endured, no matter how far I have strayed from You. Give me the strength to resurrect my weary spirit. Revive me, God, so I can embrace life once more in joy, in passion, in peace. Amen.
When I feel tainted, God, remind me that I am holy. When I feel weak, teach me that I am strong. When I am shattered, assure me that I can heal. When I am weary, renew my spirit. When I am lost, show me that you are near. Amen.
May God heal you, body and soul. May your pain cease, May your strength increase, May your fears be released, May blessings, love and joy surround you. Amen.
-Rabbi Naomi Levy Talking to God: Personal Prayers for Times of Joy, Sadness, Struggle and Celebration
For more Information, please contact Rabbi Lynn C. Liberman, BCC, Community Chaplain at JFS at
(651)434-4112 or by email.