When we are together for public worship, we often recite a prayer for healing, or “mi she’berakh” for the ill and their caregivers. During this time, when we cannot meet publicly, some of us may want to include similar texts. You may chose to use this Hebrew text, or this English prayer, written by our member Rabbi Ayelet Cohen. You are also always encouraged to use your own spontaneous prayers, which can be particularly precious.
| May the One who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah | Mi she’berakh avoteinu Avraham, Itzhak, v’Yaakov, Sarah, Rivka Rachel v’Leah | מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבותֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקב שרה רבקה רחל ולאה |
| Bless and heal the ill of our community (please insert individual names) | Hu yiverakh v’yirapeh et [haholeh/holah/holim] ba’Kehillah Hakedosha hazot | הוּא יְבָרֵך וירפא אֶת [הַחולֶה/הַחולָה/החולים] בקהילה הקדושה הזאת |
| Among all the ill of the Jewish people and all the world’s nations | B’tokh sh’ar holei Israel v’umot ha’olam | בתוך שאר חולי ישראל ואומות העולם |
| As we pledge to give tzedaka in their names. | Ba’avur she’anahnu nod’rim tzedaka ba’avuram. | בַּעֲבוּר שאנחנו נודֵרים צְדָקָה בַּעֲבוּרם, |
| May God be moved to show them mercy, granting them healing, strength and life | HaKadosh Barukh Hu yimaleh rahamim aleyhem, le’rapotam u’lehah’zikam u’le’hahayotam | הַקָּדושׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִמָלֵא רַחֲמִים עָלָיהם לְרַפְּאתם וּלְהַחֲזִיקם וּלְהַחֲיותם, |
| And may God send them heavenly healing for all their suffering. | V’yishlah lahem me’heira ta’arukha u’refuah min ha’shamayim, lekol makhoveihem u’makoteihem | וְיִשְׁלַח להם מְהֵרָה תארוכה ורְפוּאָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, לכל מכואביהם ומכותיהם |
| May God fill their lungs with living breath. May they respond with praise for each and every breath they draw, as it says: let every breathing creature praise God. | V’yipah be’appeihem nishmat hayyim. V’yitnu lo shevah v’hodaya al kol neshima u’neshima, she’ne’emar: Kol ha’neshama tehallel Yah. | ויפח באפיהם נשמת חיים ויתנו לו שבח והודיה על כל נשימה ונשימה שנאמר כל הנשמה תהלל י’ה |
| May God fill the hearts of nurses, doctors and researchers with wisdom and skill in all the healing arts. | V’yimaleh Elohim lev kol hakham-lev b’hokhma ube’t’vunah u’vda’at u’v’khol melekhet ha’refuah. | וימלא א’להים לב כל חכם לב בחכמה ובתבונה ובדעת ובכל מלאכת הרפואה |
| May God give them the bravery to stand in the breach, and protect them from all plague and disease. | V’y’ametz et libam la’amod ba’peretz, v’yagen aleheihem mikol negah u’mahalah. | ויאמץ את לבם לעמוד בפרץ ויגן עליהם מכל נגע ומחלה |
| Right now, speedily, soon. Let us say Amen. | Hashta b’agala u’viz’man kariv, v’imru Amen. | הַשְׁתָּא בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב. וְנאמַר אָמֵן |
