Prayer Amid the Pandemic, by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth 2020)

Contributor(s):

Ephraim Mirvis and Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth

Shared on:

27 March 2020 under the Public Domain (Compendium II: Copyright Office Practices, § 206.01. Edicts of government)

Categories:

Epidemics & Pandemics

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Europe, 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19 coronavirus, 2020 coronavirus pandemic, 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom

The UK’s chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis composed this prayer; he recommended that Psalms 91, Psalms 121, and Psalms 130 be said with it.

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם	Heavenly Father, We turn to You at this time of deep global concern, to bestow Your mercy upon all the inhabitants of our vulnerable world, which is now so seriously afflicted.
כִּי אַעֲלֶה אֲרֻכָה לָךְ וּמִמַּכּוֹתַיִךְ אֶרְפָּאֵךְ נְאֻם־ה׳ (ירמיה ל:יז)	Almighty God, who sustains the living with lovingkindness, supports the fallen and heals the sick, grant consolation to the bereaved families and send a speedy and complete recovery to all who have contracted the virus, as the Prophet Jeremiah declared: “For I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says the Lord”.^[1] Jeremiah 30:17.
	Bless with strength those who are suffering. Bless with resilience those in isolation. Bless with hope those who are despondent. Bless with wisdom all those who seek a cure and bless with compassion all those who offer comfort.
	Bless the leaders of our nations. Give them and their advisors knowledge and foresight to act with wisdom and sincerity for the wellbeing of all whom they serve.
	Bless the doctors, nurses, all healthcare professionals and key workers who tirelessly seek to heal and help those affected, while in so doing put themselves at risk.
	Open our hearts in prayer and our hands in generosity to guarantee that the physical distance this virus creates between us will be bridged through compassion and kindness.
	Almighty God of healing and hope, at this time of heightened global awareness of our mutual interdependence, enable all of humankind to appreciate the strength that comes from being united in concern and love, rather than divided with hate and prejudice. As we look to the future, may You endow all people with the capacity to build and sustain societies of unity, tolerance, harmony, and peace.
	O Lord, our Rock and Salvation, lead us speedily from despair to hope, from fear to trust and from the dread of death to the celebration of life.
וַאֲנִי תְפִלָּתִי־לְךָ יְהוָה עֵת רָצוֹן (תהלים סט:יד)	May this prayer of mine come before You at a propitious time.^[2] Psalms 69:14.
וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן אָמֵן׃	And may this be Your will, Amen.

This prayer was shared from Rabbi Mirvis’s Fecebook page under the title “The Chief Rabbi’s Prayer 20th March 2020/24th Adar 5780.”

Source(s)

Notes[+]

Notes
1	Jeremiah 30:17.
2	Psalms 69:14.

. Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication . 1.0 . Universal .

“Prayer Amid the Pandemic, by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth 2020)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.

Ephraim Mirvis

Ephraim Mirvis (born 1956) is an Orthodox rabbi who serves as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. Traditionally the post has entailed that he also serves as the head of all British Jews as the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. He served as the Chief Rabbi of Ireland between 1985 and 1992. (via his Wikipedia article)

Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth

The Office of the Chief Rabbi is the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and is the senior rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations. The present incumbent is Ephraim Mirvis who leads the Office of the Chief Rabbi (OCR).

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17