There is nothing so whole as a broken heart...(and nothing more upright than a tilted ladder.)
–Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (1827–1859)
הָ֭רֹפֵא לִשְׁב֣וּרֵי לֵ֑בוּ֝מְחַבֵּ֗שׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָֽם׃מוֹנֶ֣ה מִ֭סְפָּר לַכּוֹכָבִ֑יםלְ֝כֻלָּ֗ם שֵׁמ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽא׃
Healer of the broken-heartedBinder of our woundsCounter of uncountable starsYou know who we are
Ha·ro·fei lish·vu·rei levUm·cha·besh le·atz·vo·tam
Mo·neh mis·par le·ko·cha·vim
Le·chu·lam she·mot yik·ra
Ana El Na R'fa Na La
(ה) מִֽן־הַ֭מֵּצַ֥ר קָרָ֣אתִי יָּ֑הּ עָנָ֖נִי בַמֶּרְחָ֣ב יָֽהּ׃ (ו) יְהוָ֣ה לִ֭י לֹ֣א אִירָ֑א מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה לִ֣י אָדָֽם׃
(5) In distress I called on the LORD; the Lord answered me and brought me relief. (6) The LORD is on my side, I have no fear; what can man do to me?
Min ha·mei·tzar ka·ra·ti YahA·na·ni ba·mer·chav Yah
HAVAYAH li lo i·raMa ya·a·seh li a·dam
(א) מִזְמ֡וֹר שִׁיר־חֲנֻכַּ֖ת הַבַּ֣יִת לְדָוִֽד׃ (ב) אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי וְלֹא־שִׂמַּ֖חְתָּ אֹיְבַ֣י לִֽי׃ (ג) יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָ֑י שִׁוַּ֥עְתִּי אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ וַתִּרְפָּאֵֽנִי׃ (ד) יְֽהוָ֗ה הֶֽעֱלִ֣יתָ מִן־שְׁא֣וֹל נַפְשִׁ֑י חִ֝יִּיתַ֗נִי מיורדי־[מִיָּֽרְדִי־] בֽוֹר׃ (ה) זַמְּר֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חֲסִידָ֑יו וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ לְזֵ֣כֶר קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃ (ו) כִּ֤י רֶ֨גַע ׀ בְּאַפּוֹ֮ חַיִּ֪ים בִּרְצ֫וֹנ֥וֹ בָּ֭עֶרֶב יָלִ֥ין בֶּ֗כִי וְלַבֹּ֥קֶר רִנָּֽה׃ (ז) וַ֭אֲנִי אָמַ֣רְתִּי בְשַׁלְוִ֑י בַּל־אֶמּ֥וֹט לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (ח) יְֽהוָ֗ה בִּרְצוֹנְךָ֮ הֶעֱמַ֪דְתָּה לְֽהַרְרִ֫י עֹ֥ז הִסְתַּ֥רְתָּ פָנֶ֗יךָ הָיִ֥יתִי נִבְהָֽל׃ (ט) אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א וְאֶל־אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃ (י) מַה־בֶּ֥צַע בְּדָמִי֮ בְּרִדְתִּ֪י אֶ֫ל־שָׁ֥חַת הֲיוֹדְךָ֥ עָפָ֑ר הֲיַגִּ֥יד אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃ (יא) שְׁמַע־יְהוָ֥ה וְחָנֵּ֑נִי יְ֝הוָה הֱֽיֵה־עֹזֵ֥ר לִֽי׃ (יב) הָפַ֣כְתָּ מִסְפְּדִי֮ לְמָח֪וֹל לִ֥י פִּתַּ֥חְתָּ שַׂקִּ֑י וַֽתְּאַזְּרֵ֥נִי שִׂמְחָֽה׃ (יג) לְמַ֤עַן ׀ יְזַמֶּרְךָ֣ כָ֭בוֹד וְלֹ֣א יִדֹּ֑ם יְהוָ֥ה אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י לְעוֹלָ֥ם אוֹדֶֽךָּ׃
(1) A psalm of David. A song for the dedication of the House. (2) I extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, and not let my enemies rejoice over me. (3) O LORD, my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me. (4) O LORD, You brought me up from Sheol, preserved me from going down into the Pit. (5) O you faithful of the LORD, sing to Him, and praise His holy name. (6) For He is angry but a moment, and when He is pleased there is life. One may lie down weeping at nightfall; but at dawn there are shouts of joy. (7) When I was untroubled, I thought, “I shall never be shaken,” (8) for You, O Lord, when You were pleased, made [me] firm as a mighty mountain. When You hid Your face, I was terrified. (9) I called to You, O LORD; to my Lord I made appeal, (10) “What is to be gained from my death, from my descent into the Pit? Can dust praise You? Can it declare Your faithfulness? (11) Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; O LORD, be my help!” (12) You turned my lament into dancing, you undid my sackcloth and girded me with joy, (13) that [my] whole being might sing hymns to You endlessly; O LORD my God, I will praise You forever.
רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא חֲלַשׁ. עָל לְגַבֵּיהּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אֲמַר לֵיהּ: חֲבִיבִין עָלֶיךָ יִסּוּרִין? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לֹא הֵן וְלֹא שְׂכָרָן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי יְדָךְ. יְהַב לֵיהּ יְדֵיהּ, וְאוֹקְמֵיהּ. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן חֲלַשׁ. עָל לְגַבֵּיהּ רַבִּי חֲנִינָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: חֲבִיבִין עָלֶיךָ יִסּוּרִין? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לֹא הֵן וְלֹא שְׂכָרָן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי יְדָךְ. יְהַב לֵיהּ יְדֵיהּ, וְאוֹקְמֵיהּ. אַמַּאי, לוֹקִים רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לְנַפְשֵׁיהּ? אָמְרִי: אֵין חָבוּשׁ מַתִּיר עַצְמוֹ מִבֵּית הָאֲסוּרִים.
The Gemara continues to address the issue of suffering and affliction: Rabbi Yoḥanan’s student, Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba, fell ill. Rabbi Yoḥanan entered to visit him, and said to him: Is your suffering dear to you? Do you desire to be ill and afflicted? Rabbi Ḥiyya said to him: I welcome neither this suffering nor its reward, as one who welcomes this suffering with love is rewarded. Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: Give me your hand. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba gave him his hand, and Rabbi Yoḥanan stood him up and restored him to health. Similarly, Rabbi Yoḥanan fell ill. Rabbi Ḥanina entered to visit him, and said to him: Is your suffering dear to you? Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: I welcome neither this suffering nor its reward. Rabbi Ḥanina said to him: Give me your hand. He gave him his hand, and Rabbi Ḥanina stood him up and restored him to health. The Gemara asks: Why did Rabbi Yoḥanan wait for Rabbi Ḥanina to restore him to health? If he was able to heal his student, let Rabbi Yoḥanan stand himself up. The Gemara answers, they say: A prisoner cannot generally free himself from prison, but depends on others to release him from his shackles.
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
Get into the habit of singing a tune. It will give you new life and fill you with joy. Get into the habit of dancing. It will displace depression and dispel hardship.
(ה) הַזֹּרְעִ֥ים בְּדִמְעָ֗ה בְּרִנָּ֥ה יִקְצֹֽרוּ׃
(5) They who sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy.
(יח) רְפָאֵֽנוּ יהוה וְנֵֽרָפֵא, הֽוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ וְנִוָּשֵֽׁעָה, כִּי תְהִלָּתֵֽנוּ אָֽתָּה, וְהַֽעֲלֵה אֲרוּכָה וּמַרְפֵּא לְכָל־תַּֽחֲלוּאֵֽינוּ וּלְכָל־מַכְאוֹבֵֽינוּ וּלְכָל־מַכּוֹתֵֽינוּ. כִּי אֵל רוֹפֵא רַחְמָן וְנֶֽאֱמָן אָֽתָּה: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה, רוֹפֵא חוֹלֵי עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל:
(18) Heal us, L·rd, & we will be healed. Save us & we will be saved, for You are our Praise. And bring a cure & healing for all of our ailments, & all our pains, & all our wounds for, G·d You are a compassionate & faithful healer. Blessed are You L·rd, Who heals the ill of His people, Yisrael.
(א) רְפָאֵנוּ יהוה וְנֵרָפֵא. הושִׁיעֵנוּ וְנִוָּשֵׁעָה כִּי תְהִלָּתֵנוּ אָתָּה. וְהַעֲלֵה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה לְכָל מַכּותֵינוּ.
(1) Heal us, O Lord, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved, for You are our praise. Bring complete healing to all our wounds,
Coronavirus: A Prayer for Medical ScientistsG-d of wisdom,Bless medical scientists and researchers around the worldWith insight and skill, dedication and fortitude,As they combat coronavirus,So that their work yields knowledge and understanding,Speedily finding a vaccine, treatments and deterrents to its spread.
Source of life,Grant public health and government officialsThe strength to act swiftly and decisively,With compassion and understanding,In service to humankind,Fighting this outbreakAnd the other diseases that still plague the planet,Diseases threatening the lives of our brothers and sisters,Nations and communities,Young and old.
Rock of Ages,Bring an end to disease and suffering,So that all may knowYour compassion and Your grace.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’, רוֹפֵא כׇל בָּשָׂר, וּמַפְלִיא לַעֲשׂוֺת׃Praised are You G-d, healer of flesh, maker of wonders.
© 2020 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.
For more information, see http://tobendlight.com/2020/02/coronavirus-prayer/
On Anxiety:
Adonai, You abide though all things change. I am anxious and fearful, and I turn my heart to You, looking to You and leaning on Your strength. It is written, “Blessed is the one whose strength is in You.” Bless me now with faith and courage. Help me to feel that You are with me, steadying and sustaining me with the assurance that I am loved. Be with me and bring me hope, that in the days to come, my aspirations may be fulfilled for my good and the good of those I love who depend on me. Banish my fears with the sense that You are always present, to uphold and sustain me, as it is written, “Have no fear, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with the power of My righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10). Amen.
By Rabbi Chaim Stern, from Mishkan R’fuah: Where Healing Resides. Copyright © 2013 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed, sold, or copied without express written permission. Originally appeared in On the Doorposts of Your House, Revised Edition © 1994, 2010 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis, p. 163.
(א) רְפָאֵנוּ ה' וְנֵרָפֵא. הושִׁיעֵנוּ וְנִוָּשֵׁעָה כִּי תְהִלָּתֵנוּ אָתָּה. וְהַעֲלֵה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה לְכָל מַכּותֵינוּ.
(ב) תפילה בעד החולה: יְהִי רָצון מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלהַי וֵאלהֵי אֲבותַי. שֶׁתִּשְׁלַח מְהֵרָה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם. רְפוּאַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וּרְפוּאַת הַגּוּף לְחולֶה פב"פ בְּתוךְ שְׁאָר חולֵי יִשרָאֵל:
(ג) כִּי אֵל מֶלֶךְ רופֵא נֶאֱמָן וְרַחֲמָן אָתָּה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', רופֵא חולֵי עַמּו יִשרָאֵל:
(1) Heal us, O God, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved, for You are our praise. Bring complete healing to all our wounds,
(2) (Prayer for a sick person: May it be Your will in front of You, O Eternal, my God and the God of my ancestors, that You quickly send a complete recovery from the Heavens - a recovery of the soul and a recovery of the body - to the the sick person, insert name, the son/daughter of insert mother's name, among the other sick ones of Israel.)
(3) for You are God and Sovereign, the faithful and merciful healer. Blessed are You, O God, Who heals the sick of Your people Israel.
(ב) לנקבה: מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבותֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקב משֶׁה וְאַהֲרן דָּוִד וּשְׁלמה הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַחולָה פב"פ בַּעֲבוּר שפב"פ נודֵר צְדָקָה בַּעֲבוּרָהּ, בִּשכַר זֶה הַקָּדושׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִמָלֵא רַחֲמִים עָלֶיהָ לְהַחֲלִימָהּ וּלְרַפְּאתָהּ וּלְהַחֲזִיקָהּ וּלְהַחֲיותָהּ, וְיִשְׁלַח לָהּ מְהֵרָה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם לְכָל אֵבָרֶיהּ וּלְכָל גִּידֶיהָ בְּתוךְ שְׁאָר חולֵי יִשרָאֵל, רְפוּאַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וּרְפוּאַת הַגּוּף בשבת: שַׁבָּת הִיא מִלִזְּעוק וּרְפוּאָה קְרובָה לָבוא. ביו"ט: יום טוב הוא מִלְזּעוק וּרְפוּאָה קְרובָה לָבוא, הַשְׁתָּא בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב. וְנאמַר אָמֵן:
For a Woman:
May the one who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, David and Solomon bless [First Name, daughter of Mother's Name], for which [name of person asking for the prayer] vows to give charity for her sake. As reward for this, may the Holy One, Blessed Be God, be filled with mercy for her, to heal her and to strengthen her and to enliven her, and quickly send her a complete healing from heaven to all her limbs and organs, among the other sick of Israel, a healing of the spirit and a healing of the body. On Shabbat: On Shabbat we do not cry out, and healing will soon come. Now, speedily, and in a time soon to come, and let us say, Amen.
(יד) רְפָאֵ֤נִי יהוה וְאֵ֣רָפֵ֔א הוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נִי וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה כִּ֥י תְהִלָּתִ֖י אָֽתָּה׃
(14) Heal me, Adonai and let me be healed; Save me, and let me be saved; For You are my glory.
May it be Your will, O our God, that we be allowed to stand in places of astonishing light and not in dark places, and may our hearts know no pain, and may our vision not be so clouded that we would not see all the blessings of Life that You have given us. (Rabbi Alexandrai’s prayer (or the prayer of Rav Himnuna) Talmud Berachot 17a)
A Prayer for the Health and Healing of Healer
May the One who blessed our ancestorsBless all those who put themselves at risk to care for the sickPhysicians and nurses and orderliesTechnicians and home health aidesEMTs and pharmacists And bless especially / an individual or other categories of health workers/Who navigate the unfolding dangers of the world each day, To tend to those they have sworn to help.
Bless them in their coming home and bless them in their going out. Ease their fear. Sustain them.Source of all breath, healer of all beings,Protect them and restore their hope. Strengthen them, that they may bring strength;Keep them in health, that they may bring healing.Help them know again a time when they can breathe without fear.Bless the sacred work of their hands.May this plague pass from among us, speedily and in our days.
--- Rabbi Ayelet S. Cohen, March 2020
Hold me God...hold me now.I am afraid.My (husband/ wife/ sister /brother /child /mother /father /loved one) is alone, and my heart is breaking.I want so bad to hold his/ her /their hand and comfort him /her /them—but I can’t.Help me to know that even though I am not physically there with him/ her/them....I am very much there.
Give me hope, oh God.Help me to put all my trust in his/her/ their doctors and his/ her/their medical staff to make the right decisions.Fill my loved one’s lungs with air and restore him/her to life.Protect him/ her/ them, watch over him/ her /them, heal him /her /them.
Give me strength, oh God in this hour of darkness to know you are there holding me.Amen.
36 Out of the depths I call to you, God hear my prayer. I face the unknown and the unknowable and I cannot do this alone. It is said that You formed human beings in wisdom, creating our bodies complex and sensitive for us to live through in fullness, and yet so sensitive and complex that it may become impossible for us to remain alive should some small change occur in them. And so I wait for You, my soul waits and hopes for You to answer. My soul waits for You more than ever before because I cannot do this alone. I desire life, I love the days I live, I want to have more of them. To feel again the sunshine on my skin, to see again the happiness of the faces of those I love, to look forward again with pleasure. And now I sit in the depths, in the cool dark of the now, and my soul waits for the morning and for You. You are said to be the healer of all flesh, so I ask You now for healing.
And should Your answer come to tell me the future will not be mine, then be with me, redeem my soul and let me take refuge in You, for none who take refuge with you shall remain in the depths. (Sylvia Rothschild: Prayer in illness and distress)
"Suffering is suffering. It can neither be controlled nor explained. But we can meet it with compassion, with presence."
Rabbi Alan Lew Be Still and Get Going
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר חֲלַשׁ. עַל לְגַבֵּיהּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן. חֲזָא דַּהֲוָה קָא גָּנֵי בְּבֵית אָפֵל. גַּלְיֵיהּ לִדְרָעֵיהּ וּנְפַל נְהוֹרָא. חַזְיֵיהּ דַּהֲוָה קָא בָּכֵי רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַמַּאי קָא בָּכֵית? אִי מִשּׁוּם תּוֹרָה דְּלָא אַפֵּשְׁתְּ — שָׁנִינוּ: אֶחָד הַמַּרְבֶּה וְאֶחָד הַמַּמְעִיט, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיְּכַוֵּין לִבּוֹ לַשָּׁמַיִם. וְאִי מִשּׁוּם מְזוֹנֵי — לֹא כׇּל אָדָם זוֹכֶה לִשְׁתֵּי שֻׁלְחָנוֹת. וְאִי מִשּׁוּם בְּנֵי — דֵּין גַּרְמָא דַּעֲשִׂירָאָה בִּיר.
The Gemara relates that Rabbi Elazar, another of Rabbi Yoḥanan’s students, fell ill. Rabbi Yoḥanan entered to visit him, and saw that he was lying in a dark room. Rabbi Yoḥanan exposed his arm, and light radiated from his flesh, filling the house. He saw that Rabbi Elazar was crying, and said to him: Why are you crying? Thinking that his crying was over the suffering that he endured throughout his life, Rabbi Yoḥanan attempted to comfort him: If you are weeping because you did not study as much Torah as you would have liked, we learned: One who brings a substantial sacrifice and one who brings a meager sacrifice have equal merit, as long as he directs his heart toward Heaven. If you are weeping because you lack sustenance and are unable to earn a livelihood, as Rabbi Elazar was, indeed, quite poor, not every person merits to eat off of two tables, one of wealth and one of Torah, so you need not bemoan the fact that you are not wealthy. If you are crying over children who have died, this is the bone of my tenth son*, and suffering of that kind afflicts great people, and they are afflictions of love.
אַדְּהָכִי וְהָכִי אֲמַר לֵיהּ: חֲבִיבִין עָלֶיךָ יִסּוּרִין? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לֹא הֵן וְלֹא שְׂכָרָן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי יְדָךְ, יְהַב לֵיהּ יְדֵיהּ, וְאוֹקְמֵיהּ.
Meanwhile, Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: Is your suffering dear to you? Rabbi Elazar said to him: I welcome neither this suffering nor its reward. Upon hearing this, Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: Give me your hand. Rabbi Elazar gave him his hand, and Rabbi Yoḥanan stood him up and restored him to health.
"So I'm going to tell you how to survive, but you won't like it. Every time I say anything about it, people shudder. But you couldn't get away from it, the thing I'm talking about. The word is "pain." Pain is the avenue to getting a soul, getting quality from yourself...When the pain comes, I am patient, i shut up, active silence. I bear it, wait, even overnight, but I mean I bear it. I stand before it, I call the pain out. After you go through this you discover you got choices. This is the task of our life. I want to live this kind of life so I can be alive every minute. I want to know when I'm awake, I'm altogether awake. When I'm asleep, I'm asleep."
Heschel from Number Our Days by Barbara Myerhoff
**What can we take away from this for understanding current events?
"And in the centre of the internal storm, we can allow ourselves to be transformed – changed, in the way that Black science fiction writer prophetess Octavia Butler spoke of Change as the only law and only true God. In accepting that death is an ever present (though much closer for many of us than before) possibility, but refusing to stop our fight for life, we open ourselves to enormous change. This is not an easy thing, nor is it a “happily ever after,” because in all change there is loss. The change brought by a pandemic is inescapable tragedy. But a part of us – the best part or worst part – can survive that, nestled in the centre of the storm, if we allow ourselves to changed and mindfully choose which direction that Change will take.
The ancient warrior classes of East Asia, the land of my own ancestors, knew this. They developed entire philosophies dedicated to accepting – though not encouraging or hastening – death, in the service of pursuing braver and more honourable lives. And while the ancient warrior classes had many flaws, this is one teaching I hope to take with me. Let’s choose courage and honour. We might die, we will know death. That was always true, though we are forced to see it more clearly now. What will we choose to become in the life time between now and then?"
Kai Cheng Thom Quarantine Somatic Journal #1: On Death & Transformation
רבי חייא בר אבא חלש. על לגביה ר' יוחנן. א"ל חביבין עליך יסורין? א"ל לא הן ולא שכרן. א"ל הב לי ידך. יהב ליה ידיה, ואוקמיה.
ר' יוחנן חלש. על לגביה ר' חנינא. א"ל חביבין עליך יסורין? א"ל לא הן ולא שכרן. א"ל הב לי ידך. יהב ליה ידיה, ואוקמיה. אמאי? לוקים ר' יוחנן לנפשיה. אמרי: אין חבוש מתיר עצמו מבית האסורים.
רבי אליעזר חלש. על לגביה רבי יוחנן. חזא דהוה קא גני בבית אפל. גלייה לדרעיה ונפל נהורא. חזייה דהוה קא בכי ר' אליעזר. א"ל אמאי קא בכית? אי משום תורה דלא אפשת, שנינו אחד המרבה ואחד הממעיט ובלבד שיכוין לבו לשמים. ואי משום מזוני, לא כל אדם זוכה לשתי שלחנות. ואי משום בני, דין גרמא דעשיראה ביר. א"ל להאי שופרא דבלי בעפרא קא בכינא. א"ל על דא ודאי קא בכית, ובכו תרוייהו. אדהכי והכי א"ל חביבין עליך יסורין? א"ל לא הן ולא שכרן. א"ל הב לי ידך. יהב ליה ידיה, ואוקמיה.
Rabbi Hiya Bar Abba was sick. Rabbi Yohanan went to visit him.
He [Rabbi Yohanan] said to him, "Are your sufferings dear to you?"
He [Rabbi Hiya Bar Abba] replied "Not them and not their reward."
He said: "Give me your hand."
He gave him his hand and he stood him up. [i.e. he was healed]
Rabbi Yohanan was sick. Rabbi Hanina went to visit him.
He [Rabbi Hanina] said to him, "Are your sufferings dear to you?"
He [Rabbi Yohanan] replied "Not them and not their reward."
He said: "Give me your hand."
He gave him his hand and he stood him up.
Why doesn't Rabbi Yonhanan stand himself up?
They say - A prisoner can't free himself from prison.
Rabbi Eliezer was sick. Rabbi Yohanan went to visit him.
He saw that he lived in a dark house. He revealed his arm and light fell. He saw that Rabbi Eliezer was crying. He said to him "Why are you crying? If it's because of Torah that you didn't study, we've learned: 'one who does more and one who does less, as long as his heart is oriented to heaven'. And if it's because of sustenance [wealth], not every person merits two tables [wealth and Torah]. And If it's because of children [who had died] - this is the bone of my tenth son [who had died.]"
He [Rabbi Eliezer] said, "Because of this beauty that will be swallowed in the dirt, I'm crying."
He [Rabbi Yohanan] said to him, "For this surely it's worth crying", and they cried together. Eventually, he [Rabbi Yohanan] said to him, "Are your sufferings dear to you?"
He [Rabbi Eliezer] replied "Not them and not their reward."
He said: "Give me your hand."
He gave him his hand and he stood him up.
וַיִּצְעַ֣ק מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵ֕ל נָ֛א רְפָ֥א נָ֖א לָֽהּ׃ (פ)
So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “O God, pray heal her!”
"I do not pray to God for healing, but rather to be part of the healing process, if possible. I don’t expect an answer from God. I am praying, because I am seeking a way to deal with the illness and pain, from a God who created both the good and the bad, from the God who is the Creator and Sustainer of life in the face of adversity, from a loving Parent who doesn’t always have ultimate power or control and can’t always change the world for us, but wants to help make our lives bearable."
Rabbi Amy R. Perlin, D.D.
Misheberach for a person who is ill
Siddur Sim Shalom
May He who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, bless and heal _________________. May the Holy One in mercy strengthen him/her and heal him/her soon, body and soul, together with others who suffer illness. And let us say: Amen
Debbie Friedman song
Mi shebeirach avoteinuM'kor hab'racha l'imoteinuMay the source of strength,Who blessed the ones before us,Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing,And let us say, Amen.
Mi shebeirach imoteinuM'kor habrachah l'avoteinu
Bless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah,The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit,And let us say, Amen
May it be Your will, O our God,that we be allowed to stand in places of astonishing lightand not in dark places,and may our hearts know no pain,and may our vision not be so cloudedthat we would not see all the blessings of Lifethat You have given us.(Rabbi Alexandrai’s prayer (or the prayer of Rav Himnuna) Talmud Berachot 17a)
(א) דַּע, כְּשֶׁהָאָדָם מִתְפַּלֵּל בַּשָּׂדֶה, אֲזַי כָּל הָעֲשָׂבִים כֻּלָּם בָּאִין בְּתוֹךְ הַתְּפִלָּה, וּמְסַיְּעִין לוֹ, וְנוֹתְנִין לוֹ כֹּחַ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ. ,וְזֶה בְּחִינַת שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת הַתְּפִלָּה שִׂיחָה, בְּחִינַת (בראשית ב): שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה, שֶׁכָּל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה נוֹתְנִין כֹּחַ וְסִיּוּעַ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת (שם כד): וַיֵּצֵא יִצְחָק לָשׂוּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶה – שֶׁתְּפִלָּתוֹ הָיְתָה עִם סִיּוּעַ וְכֹחַ הַשָּׂדֶה, שֶׁכָּל עִשְׂבֵי הַשָּׂדֶה נָתְנוּ כֹּחַ וְסִיּוּעַ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ כַּנַּ"ל, שֶׁבִּשְׁבִיל זֶה נִקְרֵאת הַתְּפִלָּה שִׂיחָה כַּנַּ"ל. ,וְעַל־כֵּן בַּקְּלָלָה נֶאֱמָר (דברים יא): וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת יְבוּלָהּ; כִּי כָל יְבוּל הָאָרֶץ צְרִיכִין לִתֵּן כֹּחַ וְסִיּוּעַ בְּתוֹךְ הַתְּפִלָּה, וּכְשֶׁיֵּשׁ פְּגָם וְעִכּוּב עַל זֶה, אֲזַי נֶאֱמַר: וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת יְבוּלָהּ. ,כִּי אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְפַּלֵּל בַּשָּׂדֶה, נוֹתְנִים גַם־כֵּן יְבוּל הָאָרֶץ סִיּוּעַ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ כָּל מַה שֶּׁסָּמוּךְ אֶל הָאָדָם, כְּגוֹן אֲכִילָתוֹ וּשְׁתִיָּתוֹ וְכַיּוֹצֵא, רַק כְּשֶׁהוּא בַּשָּׂדֶה, שֶׁאֲזַי סָמוּךְ לָהֶם בְּיוֹתֵר, אֲזַי כָּל הָעֲשָׂבִים וְכָל יְבוּל הָאֲדָמָה נוֹתֵן כֹּחַ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ כַּנַּ"ל. ,וְזֶה יְבוּל – רָאשֵׁי־תֵבוֹת: וַיֵּצֵא יִצְחָק לָשׂוּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶה – שֶׁכָּל יְבוּל הַשָּׂדֶה הִתְפַּלְּלוּ עִמּוֹ, כַּנַּ"ל: ,(זֶה הָעִנְיָן מְבֹאָר הֵיטֵב בַּמַּאֲמָר "תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר", הַמַּתְחִיל בְּדַף א, עַיֵּן שָׁם):
(1) Know! when a person prays in the fields, all the flora enters into the prayer, helping him and strengthening his prayer. This is the reason prayer is called SiChah (conversation), the concept of “SiaCh (shrub) of the field” (Genesis 2:5). All the shrubs of the field empower and assist his prayer.,This is the concept of “And Yitzchak went out laSuaCh (to converse) in the field” (ibid. 24:63)—his prayer was with the help and power of the field. All the flora of the field empowered and assisted his prayer, on account of which prayer is called SiChah.,Therefore, the Curse includes the statement: “and the soil will not yield its produce (yevul)” (Deuteronomy 11:17). For all the earth’s produce must empower and assist the prayer. But when this is impeded or delayed, it thus states: “and the soil will not yield its produce.”,Now, even when a person does not pray in the fields, the earth’s produce—i.e., whatever is near the person, such as his food and drink and the like—aids his prayer. But when he is in the field, because he is particularly close to these things, all the flora and all the soil’s yevul (produce) empower his prayer.,And this is YeVUL—the first letters of Vayeitzei Yitzchak Lasuach Basadeh (“And Yitzchak went out to converse in the field”). All the produce of the field prayed together with him.,(This matter is thoroughly explained in Likutey Moharan II, 1:11, “Sound the Shofar at the New Moon”; see there.)
וַיִּצְעַ֣ק מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵ֕ל נָ֛א רְפָ֥א נָ֖א לָֽהּ׃ (פ)
So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “O God, pray heal her!”
רְפָאֵנוּ ה' וְנֵרָפֵא. הושִׁיעֵנוּ וְנִוָּשֵׁעָה כִּי תְהִלָּתֵנוּ אָתָּה. וְהַעֲלֵה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה לְכָל מַכּותֵינוּ.
Heal us, O Lord, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved, for You are our praise. Bring complete healing to all our wounds,
רבי חייא בר אבא חלש על לגביה ר' יוחנן א"ל חביבין עליך יסורין א"ל לא הן ולא שכרן א"ל הב לי ידך יהב ליה ידיה ואוקמיה. ר' יוחנן חלש על לגביה ר' חנינא א"ל חביבין עליך יסורין א"ל לא הן ולא שכרן א"ל הב לי ידך יהב ליה ידיה ואוקמיה אמאי לוקים ר' יוחנן לנפשיה אמרי אין חבוש מתיר עצמו מבית האסורים
The Gemara continues to address the issue of suffering and affliction: Rabbi Yoḥanan’s student, Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba, fell ill. Rabbi Yoḥanan entered to visit him, and said to him: Is your suffering dear to you? Do you desire to be ill and afflicted? Rabbi Ḥiyya said to him: I welcome neither this suffering nor its reward, as one who welcomes this suffering with love is rewarded. Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: Give me your hand. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba gave him his hand, and Rabbi Yoḥanan stood him up and restored him to health. Similarly, Rabbi Yoḥanan fell ill. Rabbi Ḥanina entered to visit him, and said to him: Is your suffering dear to you? Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: I welcome neither this suffering nor its reward. Rabbi Ḥanina said to him: Give me your hand. He gave him his hand, and Rabbi Ḥanina stood him up and restored him to health. The Gemara asks: Why did Rabbi Yoḥanan wait for Rabbi Ḥanina to restore him to health? If he was able to heal his student, let Rabbi Yoḥanan stand himself up. The Gemara answers, they say: A prisoner cannot generally free himself from prison, but depends on others to release him from his shackles.
From ritualwell.org
A Prayer of Healing for Mental Illness
By Rabbi Elliot Kukla
May the One who blessed our ancestors bless all who live with mental illness, our care-givers, families, and friends. May we walk in the footsteps of Jacob, King Saul, Miriam, Hannah, and Naomi who struggled with dark moods, hopelessness, isolation, and terrors, but survived and led our people. Just as our father, Jacob, spent the night wrestling with an angel and prevailed, may all who live with mental illness be granted the endurance to wrestle with pain and prevail night upon night. Grace us with the faith to know that though, like Jacob, we may be wounded, shaped and renamed by this struggle, still we will live on to continue an ever unfolding, unpredictable path toward healing. May we not be alone on this path but accompanied by our families, friends, care-givers, ancestors, and the Divine presence. Surround us with loving-kindness, grace and companionship and spread over us a sukkat shalom, a shelter of peace and wholeness. And let us say: Amen.
Rabbi Shai Held:
A Jew is, ideally, a human being who, like Leah, can find her way to gratitude without having everything she wants or even needs…Disappointment need not preclude gratitude, nor need gratitude crowd out the very real possibility of disappointment. Judaism does not ask us to choose one feeling or the other but rather makes space—indeed seeks to teach us to make space—for the sheer complexity and contradictoriness of human experience. Who better than Leah to teach us that a broken heart can also have moments of profound fullness.
“Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.” Faith in God by definition is not a certainty, but the courage to live with uncertainty.
- Brene Browne, The Gifts of Imperfection
MiSheberach Prayer
May the one who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, bless (insert name here). May God grant mercy upon him/her, strengthen him/her , and bring healing. May God send him/her a complete healing of body and soul together with all who suffer illness. And let us say Amen.
Mi Sheberach Avoteinu: Avraham, Yitzhak, v’Yaakov, v’Imoteinu: Sarah, Rivka, Rachel v’Leah,
Hu yivarech virapei et hacholeh/hacholah _____________ ben/bat ______________
HaKadosh Baruch Hu yimalei rachamim alav/aleha, l’hachalimo/l’hachlimah, u-l’rap’oto/u-l’rap’otah, l’hachaziko/l’hazikah, u-l’chay-oto/u-l’chay-otah.
V’yishlach lo/lah bim-hera r’fuah shlemah, r’fu-at hanefesh u-r’fu-at hagoof, b’toch sh’ar cholei Yisrael v’cholei yoshvei tevel, hashta ba’agalah u-vizman kariv, v’no-mar, Amen!
רְפָאֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה וְנֵרָפֵא הוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ וְנִוָּשֵֽׁעָה כִּי תְהִלָּתֵֽנוּ אָֽתָּה וְהַעֲלֵה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה לְכָל מַכּוֹתֵֽינוּ
Heal us,29After the petitions for our spiritual needs, we pray for earthly blessings—for health of body and soul, and for food to maintain our strength.—Kuzari Adonoy, and we will be healed, deliver us and we will be delivered; for You are our praise. Grant a complete healing to all our afflictions
Numbers 12:13, Psalms:145:18, 85:10
(יג) וַיִּצְעַ֣ק מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵ֕ל נָ֛א רְפָ֥א נָ֖א לָֽהּ׃ (פ)
(13) So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “O God, pray heal her!”
(יח) קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הוָה לְכָל־קֹרְאָ֑יו לְכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁ֖ר יִקְרָאֻ֣הוּ בֶאֱמֶֽת׃
(18) The LORD is near to all who call Him, to all who call Him with sincerity.
(י) אַ֤ךְ ׀ קָר֣וֹב לִירֵאָ֣יו יִשְׁע֑וֹ לִשְׁכֹּ֖ן כָּב֣וֹד בְּאַרְצֵֽנוּ׃
(10) His help is very near those who fear Him, to make His glory dwell in our land.
Rabbi Arthur Green, “Radical Judaism”:
“Being or Y-H-W-H underlies and unifies all that is. ... There is no ultimate duality here, no "God and world," no "God, World, and self," Only one Being and its many faces.
When I refer to ‘God,’ I mean the inner force of existence itself, that of which one might say: ‘Being is.’ I refer to it as the ‘One’ because it is the single unifying substratum of all that is. (18, 19).
“Being is One, and each person is God’s unique image” (153).
“Often, when people begin conversations and they want to say ‘Our community does Judaism like this,’ and others say, ‘Ours does it like that. Ours is different,’ and I want to say, ‘No. Tamid Echad / Always and forever one.’
This oneness goes through history and it goes through Klal Yisroel / all the God wrestlers with whom we feel we share. [It goes through our connection to other religions too,] and the commonality also extends beyond human beings: We share with the birds, we share with the mammals, [with] the chimpanzees (who [have been shown to be able to] learn how to speak to each other in American Sign Language and then pass it on to the next generation). And when I watch the geese and the little goslings down at the lake, they also connect me with the oneness of it all.”
- Reb Zalman schachter-shalomi, “Renewal is not Judaism-lite“, 1998
(יד) רְפָאֵ֤נִי יהוה וְאֵ֣רָפֵ֔א הוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נִי וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה כִּ֥י תְהִלָּתִ֖י אָֽתָּה׃
(14) Heal me, Adonai and let me be healed; Save me, and let me be saved; For You are my glory.
May it be Your will, O our God, that we be allowed to stand in places of astonishing light and not in dark places, and may our hearts know no pain, and may our vision not be so clouded that we would not see all the blessings of Life that You have given us. (Rabbi Alexandrai’s prayer (or the prayer of Rav Himnuna) Talmud Berachot 17a)
36 Out of the depths I call to you, God hear my prayer. I face the unknown and the unknowable and I cannot do this alone. It is said that You formed human beings in wisdom, creating our bodies complex and sensitive for us to live through in fullness, and yet so sensitive and complex that it may become impossible for us to remain alive should some small change occur in them. And so I wait for You, my soul waits and hopes for You to answer. My soul waits for You more than ever before because I cannot do this alone. I desire life, I love the days I live, I want to have more of them. To feel again the sunshine on my skin, to see again the happiness of the faces of those I love, to look forward again with pleasure. And now I sit in the depths, in the cool dark of the now, and my soul waits for the morning and for You. You are said to be the healer of all flesh, so I ask You now for healing.
And should Your answer come to tell me the future will not be mine, then be with me, redeem my soul and let me take refuge in You, for none who take refuge with you shall remain in the depths. (Sylvia Rothschild: Prayer in illness and distress)
"Suffering is suffering. It can neither be controlled nor explained. But we can meet it with compassion, with presence."
Rabbi Alan Lew Be Still and Get Going
"I do not pray to God for healing, but rather to be part of the healing process, if possible. I don’t expect an answer from God. I am praying, because I am seeking a way to deal with the illness and pain, from a God who created both the good and the bad, from the God who is the Creator and Sustainer of life in the face of adversity, from a loving Parent who doesn’t always have ultimate power or control and can’t always change the world for us, but wants to help make our lives bearable."
Rabbi Amy R. Perlin, D.D.
(א) דַּע, כְּשֶׁהָאָדָם מִתְפַּלֵּל בַּשָּׂדֶה, אֲזַי כָּל הָעֲשָׂבִים כֻּלָּם בָּאִין בְּתוֹךְ הַתְּפִלָּה, וּמְסַיְּעִין לוֹ, וְנוֹתְנִין לוֹ כֹּחַ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ. ,וְזֶה בְּחִינַת שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת הַתְּפִלָּה שִׂיחָה, בְּחִינַת (בראשית ב): שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה, שֶׁכָּל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה נוֹתְנִין כֹּחַ וְסִיּוּעַ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת (שם כד): וַיֵּצֵא יִצְחָק לָשׂוּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶה – שֶׁתְּפִלָּתוֹ הָיְתָה עִם סִיּוּעַ וְכֹחַ הַשָּׂדֶה, שֶׁכָּל עִשְׂבֵי הַשָּׂדֶה נָתְנוּ כֹּחַ וְסִיּוּעַ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ כַּנַּ"ל, שֶׁבִּשְׁבִיל זֶה נִקְרֵאת הַתְּפִלָּה שִׂיחָה כַּנַּ"ל. ,וְעַל־כֵּן בַּקְּלָלָה נֶאֱמָר (דברים יא): וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת יְבוּלָהּ; כִּי כָל יְבוּל הָאָרֶץ צְרִיכִין לִתֵּן כֹּחַ וְסִיּוּעַ בְּתוֹךְ הַתְּפִלָּה, וּכְשֶׁיֵּשׁ פְּגָם וְעִכּוּב עַל זֶה, אֲזַי נֶאֱמַר: וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת יְבוּלָהּ. ,כִּי אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְפַּלֵּל בַּשָּׂדֶה, נוֹתְנִים גַם־כֵּן יְבוּל הָאָרֶץ סִיּוּעַ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ כָּל מַה שֶּׁסָּמוּךְ אֶל הָאָדָם, כְּגוֹן אֲכִילָתוֹ וּשְׁתִיָּתוֹ וְכַיּוֹצֵא, רַק כְּשֶׁהוּא בַּשָּׂדֶה, שֶׁאֲזַי סָמוּךְ לָהֶם בְּיוֹתֵר, אֲזַי כָּל הָעֲשָׂבִים וְכָל יְבוּל הָאֲדָמָה נוֹתֵן כֹּחַ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ כַּנַּ"ל. ,וְזֶה יְבוּל – רָאשֵׁי־תֵבוֹת: וַיֵּצֵא יִצְחָק לָשׂוּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶה – שֶׁכָּל יְבוּל הַשָּׂדֶה הִתְפַּלְּלוּ עִמּוֹ, כַּנַּ"ל: ,(זֶה הָעִנְיָן מְבֹאָר הֵיטֵב בַּמַּאֲמָר "תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר", הַמַּתְחִיל בְּדַף א, עַיֵּן שָׁם):
(1) Know! when a person prays in the fields, all the flora enters into the prayer, helping him and strengthening his prayer. This is the reason prayer is called SiChah (conversation), the concept of “SiaCh (shrub) of the field” (Genesis 2:5). All the shrubs of the field empower and assist his prayer.,This is the concept of “And Yitzchak went out laSuaCh (to converse) in the field” (ibid. 24:63)—his prayer was with the help and power of the field. All the flora of the field empowered and assisted his prayer, on account of which prayer is called SiChah.,Therefore, the Curse includes the statement: “and the soil will not yield its produce (yevul)” (Deuteronomy 11:17). For all the earth’s produce must empower and assist the prayer. But when this is impeded or delayed, it thus states: “and the soil will not yield its produce.”,Now, even when a person does not pray in the fields, the earth’s produce—i.e., whatever is near the person, such as his food and drink and the like—aids his prayer. But when he is in the field, because he is particularly close to these things, all the flora and all the soil’s yevul (produce) empower his prayer.,And this is YeVUL—the first letters of Vayeitzei Yitzchak Lasuach Basadeh (“And Yitzchak went out to converse in the field”). All the produce of the field prayed together with him.,(This matter is thoroughly explained in Likutey Moharan II, 1:11, “Sound the Shofar at the New Moon”; see there.)
הוֹד֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ יֹאמַר־נָ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ יֹאמְרוּ־נָ֥א בֵֽית־אַהֲרֹ֑ן כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ יֹאמְרוּ־נָ֭א יִרְאֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ מִֽן־הַ֭מֵּצַר קָרָ֣אתִי יָּ֑הּ עָנָ֖נִי בַמֶּרְחָ֣ב יָֽהּ׃ יְהֹוָ֣ה לִ֭י לֹ֣א אִירָ֑א מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה לִ֣י אָדָֽם׃ יְהֹוָ֣ה לִ֭י בְּעֹזְרָ֑י וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶרְאֶ֥ה בְשֹׂנְאָֽי׃ ט֗וֹב לַחֲס֥וֹת בַּיהֹוָ֑ה מִ֝בְּטֹ֗חַ בָּאָדָֽם׃ ט֗וֹב לַחֲס֥וֹת בַּיהֹוָ֑ה מִ֝בְּטֹ֗חַ בִּנְדִיבִֽים׃ כׇּל־גּוֹיִ֥ם סְבָב֑וּנִי בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃ סַבּ֥וּנִי גַם־סְבָב֑וּנִי בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃ סַבּ֤וּנִי כִדְבוֹרִ֗ים דֹּ֭עֲכוּ כְּאֵ֣שׁ קוֹצִ֑ים בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃ דַּחֹ֣ה דְחִיתַ֣נִי לִנְפֹּ֑ל וַ֖יהֹוָ֣ה עֲזָרָֽנִי׃ עׇזִּ֣י וְזִמְרָ֣ת יָ֑הּ וַֽיְהִי־לִ֝֗י לִישׁוּעָֽה׃ ק֤וֹל ׀ רִנָּ֬ה וִישׁוּעָ֗ה בְּאׇהֳלֵ֥י צַדִּיקִ֑ים יְמִ֥ין יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה עֹ֣שָׂה חָֽיִל׃ יְמִ֣ין יְ֭הֹוָה רוֹמֵמָ֑ה יְמִ֥ין יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה עֹ֣שָׂה חָֽיִל׃ לֹא־אָמ֥וּת כִּֽי־אֶחְיֶ֑ה וַ֝אֲסַפֵּ֗ר מַעֲשֵׂ֥י יָֽהּ׃ יַסֹּ֣ר יִסְּרַ֣נִּי יָּ֑הּ וְ֝לַמָּ֗וֶת לֹ֣א נְתָנָֽנִי׃ פִּתְחוּ־לִ֥י שַׁעֲרֵי־צֶ֑דֶק אָבֹא־בָ֝֗ם אוֹדֶ֥ה יָֽהּ׃ זֶה־הַשַּׁ֥עַר לַיהֹוָ֑ה צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים יָבֹ֥אוּ בֽוֹ׃ א֭וֹדְךָ כִּ֣י עֲנִיתָ֑נִי וַתְּהִי־לִ֝֗י לִישׁוּעָֽה׃ אֶ֭בֶן מָאֲס֣וּ הַבּוֹנִ֑ים הָ֝יְתָ֗ה לְרֹ֣אשׁ פִּנָּֽה׃ מֵאֵ֣ת יְ֭הֹוָה הָ֣יְתָה זֹּ֑את הִ֖יא נִפְלָ֣את בְּעֵינֵֽינוּ׃ זֶה־הַ֭יּוֹם עָשָׂ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה נָגִ֖ילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָ֣ה בֽוֹ׃ אָנָּ֣א יְ֭הֹוָה הוֹשִׁ֘יעָ֥ה נָּ֑א אָנָּ֥א יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה הַצְלִ֘יחָ֥ה נָּֽא׃ בָּר֣וּךְ הַ֭בָּא בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה בֵּ֝רַ֥כְנוּכֶ֗ם מִבֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ אֵ֤ל ׀ יְהֹוָה֮ וַיָּ֢אֶ֫ר לָ֥נוּ אִסְרוּ־חַ֥ג בַּעֲבֹתִ֑ים עַד־קַ֝רְנ֗וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ אֵלִ֣י אַתָּ֣ה וְאוֹדֶ֑ךָּ אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י אֲרוֹמְמֶֽךָּ׃ הוֹד֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ {פ}
Praise GOD, who is good—
whose steadfast love is eternal. Let Israel declare,
“God’s steadfast love is eternal.” Let the house of Aaron declare,
“God’s steadfast love is eternal.” Let those who fear GOD declare,
“God’s steadfast love is eternal.” In distress I called on Yah;
Yah answered me and brought me relief. GOD is on my side,
I have no fear;
what can mortals do to me? With GOD on my side as my helper,
I will see the downfall of my foes. It is better to take refuge in GOD
than to trust in mortals; it is better to take refuge in GOD
than to trust in the great. All nations have beset me;
by GOD’s name I will surely cut them down. They beset me, they surround me;
by GOD’s name I will surely cut them down. They have beset me like bees;
they shall be extinguished like burning thorns;
by GOD’s name I will surely cut them down. You pressed me hard,
I nearly fell;
but GOD helped me. Yah is my strength and might,
and has become my deliverance. The tents of the victorious resound with joyous shouts of deliverance,
“GOD’s right hand is triumphant! GOD’s right hand is exalted!
GOD’s right hand is triumphant!” I shall not die but live
and proclaim the works of Yah. Yah punished me severely,
but did not hand me over to death. Open the gates of victory for me
that I may enter them and praise Yah. This is the gateway to GOD—
the victorious shall enter through it. I praise You, for You have answered me,
and have become my deliverance. The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone. This is GOD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our sight. This is the day that GOD has made—
let us exult and rejoice on it. O ETERNAL One, deliver us!
O ETERNAL One, let us prosper! May everyone who enters be blessed in the name of GOD;
we bless you from the House of GOD. The ETERNAL is God,
who has given us light;
bind the festal offering to the horns of the altar with cords. You are my God and I will praise You;
You are my God and I will extol You. Praise GOD, who is good—
whose steadfast love is eternal.
whose steadfast love is eternal. Let Israel declare,
“God’s steadfast love is eternal.” Let the house of Aaron declare,
“God’s steadfast love is eternal.” Let those who fear GOD declare,
“God’s steadfast love is eternal.” In distress I called on Yah;
Yah answered me and brought me relief. GOD is on my side,
I have no fear;
what can mortals do to me? With GOD on my side as my helper,
I will see the downfall of my foes. It is better to take refuge in GOD
than to trust in mortals; it is better to take refuge in GOD
than to trust in the great. All nations have beset me;
by GOD’s name I will surely cut them down. They beset me, they surround me;
by GOD’s name I will surely cut them down. They have beset me like bees;
they shall be extinguished like burning thorns;
by GOD’s name I will surely cut them down. You pressed me hard,
I nearly fell;
but GOD helped me. Yah is my strength and might,
and has become my deliverance. The tents of the victorious resound with joyous shouts of deliverance,
“GOD’s right hand is triumphant! GOD’s right hand is exalted!
GOD’s right hand is triumphant!” I shall not die but live
and proclaim the works of Yah. Yah punished me severely,
but did not hand me over to death. Open the gates of victory for me
that I may enter them and praise Yah. This is the gateway to GOD—
the victorious shall enter through it. I praise You, for You have answered me,
and have become my deliverance. The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone. This is GOD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our sight. This is the day that GOD has made—
let us exult and rejoice on it. O ETERNAL One, deliver us!
O ETERNAL One, let us prosper! May everyone who enters be blessed in the name of GOD;
we bless you from the House of GOD. The ETERNAL is God,
who has given us light;
bind the festal offering to the horns of the altar with cords. You are my God and I will praise You;
You are my God and I will extol You. Praise GOD, who is good—
whose steadfast love is eternal.
מִזְמ֡וֹר שִׁיר־חֲנֻכַּ֖ת הַבַּ֣יִת לְדָוִֽד׃ אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי וְלֹֽא־שִׂמַּ֖חְתָּ אֹיְבַ֣י לִֽי׃ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָ֑י שִׁוַּ֥עְתִּי אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ וַתִּרְפָּאֵֽנִי׃ יְֽהֹוָ֗ה הֶעֱלִ֣יתָ מִן־שְׁא֣וֹל נַפְשִׁ֑י חִ֝יִּיתַ֗נִי (מיורדי) [מִיׇּֽרְדִי־]בֽוֹר׃ זַמְּר֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה חֲסִידָ֑יו וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ לְזֵ֣כֶר קׇדְשֽׁוֹ׃ כִּ֤י רֶ֨גַע ׀ בְּאַפּוֹ֮ חַיִּ֢ים בִּרְצ֫וֹנ֥וֹ בָּ֭עֶרֶב יָלִ֥ין בֶּ֗כִי וְלַבֹּ֥קֶר רִנָּֽה׃ וַ֭אֲנִי אָמַ֣רְתִּי בְשַׁלְוִ֑י בַּל־אֶמּ֥וֹט לְעוֹלָֽם׃ יְֽהֹוָ֗ה בִּרְצוֹנְךָ֮ הֶעֱמַ֢דְתָּה לְֽהַרְרִ֫י־עֹ֥ז הִסְתַּ֥רְתָּ פָנֶ֗יךָ הָיִ֥יתִי נִבְהָֽל׃ אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א וְאֶל־אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃ מַה־בֶּ֥צַע בְּדָמִי֮ בְּרִדְתִּ֢י אֶ֫ל־שָׁ֥חַת הֲיוֹדְךָ֥ עָפָ֑ר הֲיַגִּ֥יד אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃ שְׁמַע־יְהֹוָ֥ה וְחׇנֵּ֑נִי יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה הֱֽיֵה־עֹזֵ֥ר לִֽי׃ הָפַ֣כְתָּ מִסְפְּדִי֮ לְמָח֢וֹל לִ֥֫י פִּתַּ֥חְתָּ שַׂקִּ֑י וַֽתְּאַזְּרֵ֥נִי שִׂמְחָֽה׃ לְמַ֤עַן ׀ יְזַמֶּרְךָ֣ כָ֭בוֹד וְלֹ֣א יִדֹּ֑ם יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י לְעוֹלָ֥ם אוֹדֶֽךָּ׃ {פ}
A psalm of David. A song for the dedication of the House. I extol You, O ETERNAL One,
for You have lifted me up,
and not let my enemies rejoice over me. O my ETERNAL God,
I cried out to You,
and You healed me. O ETERNAL One, You brought me up from Sheol,
preserved me from going down into the Pit. O you faithful of GOD, sing out,
and praise the holy name. For [God] is angry but a moment,
and when pleased, there is life.
One may lie down weeping at nightfall;
but at dawn there are shouts of joy. When I was untroubled,
I thought, “I shall never be shaken,” for You, O ETERNAL One, when You were pleased,
made [me] firm as a mighty mountain.
When You hid Your face,
I was terrified. I called to You, O ETERNAL One;
to my Sovereign I made appeal, “What is to be gained from my death,
from my descent into the Pit?
Can dust praise You?
Can it declare Your faithfulness? Hear, O ETERNAL One, and have mercy on me;
O ETERNAL One, be my help!” You turned my lament into dancing,
you undid my sackcloth and girded me with joy, that [my] whole being might sing hymns to You endlessly;
O my ETERNAL God, I will praise You forever.
for You have lifted me up,
and not let my enemies rejoice over me. O my ETERNAL God,
I cried out to You,
and You healed me. O ETERNAL One, You brought me up from Sheol,
preserved me from going down into the Pit. O you faithful of GOD, sing out,
and praise the holy name. For [God] is angry but a moment,
and when pleased, there is life.
One may lie down weeping at nightfall;
but at dawn there are shouts of joy. When I was untroubled,
I thought, “I shall never be shaken,” for You, O ETERNAL One, when You were pleased,
made [me] firm as a mighty mountain.
When You hid Your face,
I was terrified. I called to You, O ETERNAL One;
to my Sovereign I made appeal, “What is to be gained from my death,
from my descent into the Pit?
Can dust praise You?
Can it declare Your faithfulness? Hear, O ETERNAL One, and have mercy on me;
O ETERNAL One, be my help!” You turned my lament into dancing,
you undid my sackcloth and girded me with joy, that [my] whole being might sing hymns to You endlessly;
O my ETERNAL God, I will praise You forever.