Iyar - Healing or Cure?

Iyar is the month of healing. The Hebrew letters for the name Iyar spell out the initials of the verse "Ani Yud-Yud Rofecha," "I am God your Healer".

The Sefer Ta’amei HaMinhagim asks why is Iyar a time of healing? He sources the Bnei Yissaschar who teaches that most weakness and illness come from foods which do not comport with a person's nature or composition. Since the Manna began to fall during this month (on the 15th day of Iyar 2448) – and it was a perfect food from which resulted no sickness, pain or even waste matter and even cured those who were ill – Hashem left the curative nature of the month in effect even through today. Accordingly, Iyar is a time of healing.

Prayer for an ill female to be said on weekdays:
May He who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, David and Solomon, heal (sick person's Hebrew name and that of her mother), because (Hebrew name of the person who pledged charity for the sake of the sick person and that of his/her father) pledged charity, without a vow, for her sake. In this merit may the Holy One, blessed be He, be filled with mercy for her, to restore her to health and to cure her, to strengthen her and to invigorate her. And may He hasten to send her from heaven a complete recovery to all her bodily parts and veins, among the other sick people of Israel, a healing of spirit and a healing of body; and let us say, Amen.
Prayer for an ill person to be said on Shabbat or festivals:
May He who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, David and Solomon, bless the sick person (name) the son/daughter of (mother's name) because (donor's name) pledged charity, without a vow, for his/her sake. It is Shabbat when it is forbidden to plead; healing will come soon; and let us say, Amen.

Krista Tippett, host:Rachel Naomi Remen is one of the wise people in our world. I quote from my conversation with her all the time. She’s a physician and a lyrical writer whose long struggle with Crohn’s disease has shaped her view of life and medicine. Living well, she says, is not about eradicating our wounds and weaknesses but understanding how they complete our identity and equip us to help others. The way we deal with losses, large and small, shapes our capacity to be present to all of our experiences. There’s a difference, she says, between curing and healing.
Rachel Naomi Remen:We thought we could cure everything, but it turns out that we can only cure a small amount of human suffering. The rest of it needs to be healed, and that’s different. I think science defines life in its own way, but life is larger than science. Life is filled with mystery, courage, heroism, and love — all these things that we can witness but not measure or even understand, but they make our lives valuable anyway.

In Rachel Naomi Remen's book "Kitchen Table Wisdom," she distinguishes between healing and curing in the context of healthcare.
According to Remen, curing refers to the elimination of disease or the resolution of a medical condition. Curing is often seen as the primary goal of medical treatment, and it is typically measured by physical outcomes such as the disappearance of symptoms or the normalization of bodily functions.
Healing, on the other hand, is a more holistic and multifaceted process that encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person's well-being. Healing may or may not involve a cure, and it can occur even in the absence of a complete resolution of a medical condition.
Remen describes healing as a "restoration of wholeness" that involves a deep sense of connection, meaning, and purpose. Healing may involve a variety of practices, such as meditation, prayer, creative expression, and community support.
In essence, while curing is focused on the physical aspects of a medical condition, healing is focused on the whole person and their overall well-being.

Writing or Discussion Prompts

1. Reflect on a time when you or someone you know experienced a healing that wasn't necessarily a cure. What did this experience teach you about the difference between healing and cure? How has this understanding impacted your approach to your own health and well-being?
   
2. Write about a time when you felt like you received a cure but not necessarily a healing. What was missing from the experience? How might you approach a similar situation differently in the future?
   
3. The difference between healing and cure can be a difficult one to navigate, particularly when dealing with chronic illness or long-term health issues. Write about a time when you felt frustrated or stuck in your own healing journey. What did you do to move through this feeling and continue on your path towards healing? What helped you to stay hopeful and resilient?