Image: Healing hands. (Image by chiisaihana20200 /Pixabay)
I’ve introduced several prayers from the Amidah, from one of the core prayers in the daily service. Here is one that I find particularly helpful for stressful times, and for maintaining my balance in unbalanced times:
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,
(Prayer to add for a sick individual: May it be Your will in front of You, O Lord, my God and the God of my forefathers, 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) for You are God and King, the faithful and merciful healer. Blessed are You, O Lord, Who heals the sick of his people Israel.
– Siddur Ashkenaz
Am I asking God to magically fix things? No, I’m asking for the strength to do what I need to do, and for God’s mercy on all those who are suffering (who may include myself.) It’s another great prayer from our siddur.
Then it’s up to me to do what I can for myself, for my community, for my sick friend. We are the hands of God in the world.
I love this and needed this at the exact moment that I opened it up to read.
I’m so glad, Meredith.
I love any prayer that has to do with healing.
My husband and I delete the word “King” and make G-d, feminine.
Thank you, Rabbi Adar, for sharing this important perspective. We must be God’s hand in the world if we want to insure a meaningful future for the coming generations!