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Well-being, health, and caregiving

This is an archive of prayers composed for, or relevant to, the health and well-being of others by or for caregivers.

If you have composed a prayer for overcoming illness, for well-being, or for the success of caregivers, healers, and physicians, please share it here.

Sorted Chronologically (old to new). Sort most recent first?

“All adrift on the stream of life” a prayer for help and self-control by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy (1927)

This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “I Feel Nervous and Upset” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 15-16.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Jewish Science movement, תחינות teḥinot, teḥinot in English

Contributor(s):

Clifton Harby Levy and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

“Help our loved one who lingers in pain” a prayer for healing by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy (1927)

This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “Bringing Health to the Home” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 12-13.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., ביקור חולים biḳur ḥolim, English vernacular prayer, Jewish Science movement, תחינות teḥinot, teḥinot in English

Contributor(s):

Clifton Harby Levy and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

“Why should I torture myself” a prayer for reassurance by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy (1927)

This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “I Must Not Worry” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 19-20.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Jewish Science movement, תחינות teḥinot, teḥinot in English

Contributor(s):

Clifton Harby Levy and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

“Guard me from yielding to this temptation to err” a prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy (1927)

This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short essay, “Facing Temptation” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 21-22.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Jewish Science movement, תחינות teḥinot, teḥinot in English, יצר הרע yetser hara

Contributor(s):

Clifton Harby Levy and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

“Give me peace of soul” a prayer for self-control by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy (1927)

This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his self-reflection, “Peace within” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 17-18.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Jewish Science movement, תחינות teḥinot, teḥinot in English

Contributor(s):

Clifton Harby Levy and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

“Thy will be done” a prayer for self-resignation by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy (1927)

This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “Thy Will Be Done!” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 23-24.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Jewish Science movement, תחינות teḥinot, teḥinot in English, יצר הרע yetser hara

Contributor(s):

Clifton Harby Levy and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

מי שברך לתקופת יום הולדת | Mi sheBerakh on behalf of one celebrating a birthday, by Rabbi Dr. Mordecai Kaplan (1945)

“Prayer in behalf of one celebrating a birthday,” by Rabbi Mordecai Menaḥem Kaplan can be found on p. 494-497 of his The Sabbath Prayer Book (New York: The Jewish Reconstructionist Foundation, 1945)

Categories:

Bnei (Bar/Bat) Mitsvah & Other Birthday Prayers, During the Aliyot, Well-being, health, and caregiving, Old Age

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., ageing, birthday prayers, מי שברך mi sheberakh

Contributor(s):

Mordecai Kaplan and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Courage to Withstand the Ridicule of the Worldly, a prayer by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan (1945)

“Courage to Withstand the Ridicule of the Worldly,” by Rabbi Mordecai Menaḥem Kaplan can be found on p. 433-4 of his The Sabbath Prayer Book (New York: The Jewish Reconstructionist Foundation, 1945).

Categories:

Bedtime Shema, Labor, Fulfillment, and Parnasah, 🌐 International Workers' Day (May 1st), Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., Amits Koaḥ, apotropaic prayers of protection, ayin hara, English vernacular prayer, lashon hara, loneliness, lonely man of faith, Psalms 4, social anxiety, יצר הרע yetser hara

Contributor(s):

Mordecai Kaplan and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

[Prayer for the] Dedication of a Medical Research Clinic, by Rabbi Avraham Samuel Soltes (ca. 1950s)

“Dedication of Medical Research Clinic” was first published in Rabbi Avraham Soltes’ collection of prayers, תפלה Invocation: Sheaf of Prayers (Bloch 1959).

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., dedications and consecrations, medical treatment

Contributor(s):

Avraham Samuel Soltes and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

[Prayer for] Rebirth, by Rabbi Avraham Samuel Soltes (ca. 1950s)

A prayer anticipating the spring as a metaphor for liberation, mental wellness, and spiritual rebirth.

Categories:

the Dry Season (Spring & Summer), Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., depression, English vernacular prayer, liberation from mitsrayim, Y'mei Bein haMitsrim

Contributor(s):

Avraham Samuel Soltes and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

[Prayer] in Illness, by Rabbi Avraham Samuel Soltes (ca. 1950s)

A prayer to provide some relief and comfort tor an ill patient.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., בצלם אלהים btselem Elohim, English vernacular prayer, still small voice, מי או מה who or what

Contributor(s):

Avraham Samuel Soltes and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

[Prayer for a] Nurses’ Commencement, by Rabbi Avraham Samuel Soltes (1951)

A prayer for a Nurse’s Commencement ceremony at Beth Israel Hospital on 19 September 1951.

Categories:

Labor, Fulfillment, and Parnasah, Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., commencement, ecumenical prayers, English vernacular prayer, Nursing, United States

Contributor(s):

Avraham Samuel Soltes and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

A Prayer for the Despondent, by Rabbi Morrison David Bial (1962)

“A Prayer for the Despondent” by Rabbi Morrison David Bial was first published in his anthology, An Offering of Prayer (1962), p. 45, from where this prayer was transcribed.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., depression, Mental Health, self-care

Contributor(s):

Morrison David Bial and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

A Prayer for the Ill, by Rabbi Morrison David Bial (1962)

“A Prayer for the Ill” by Rabbi Morrison David Bial was first published in his anthology, An Offering of Prayer (1962), p. 46, from where this prayer was transcribed.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer

Contributor(s):

Morrison David Bial and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Prayer for Dedication of Hospital Chapel, by Rabbi Morrison David Bial (1962)

“Prayer for Dedication of Hospital Chapel” by Rabbi Morrison David Bial was first published in his anthology, An Offering of Prayer (1962), p. 68, from where this prayer was transcribed. No contextual information was provided with the prayer, so we cannot say when the prayer was offered or even for which hospital chapel it was dedicated. If you know, please leave a comment or contact us.

Categories:

Homes & Community Centers, Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., dedications and consecrations, ecumenical prayers, English vernacular prayer, synagogue consecration

Contributor(s):

Morrison David Bial and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

A Blessing over Water for Peace, Health, Joy, Prosperity, and Kindness — by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (ca. 2004)

A blessing by Reb Zalman for Peace, Health, Joy, Prosperity, and Kindness which he wrote in spray paint on a municipal water tank behind his house in Colorado.

Categories:

Blessings Before Eating, Blessings After Eating, Well-being, health, and caregiving, Theurgy

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., blessings, ברכות brakhot, Colorado, entering magical territory, Jewish Renewal, Masaru Emoto, shehakol, water

Contributor(s):

Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Netanel Miles-Yépez and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

A Prayer for Healing, by Rabbi Brant Rosen (Tzedek Chicago)

A contemporary Jewish prayer for healng, used at congregation Tzedek Chicago.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty, Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, health, United States

Contributor(s):

Brant Rosen and Congregation Tzedek Chicago

Prayer in a Time of Serious Illness, by Rabbi Gilah Langner

Traditional Judaism offers a confessional prayer, or vidui, to be recited during a time of serious illness or near death. If the patient is unable to recite the prayer, others may do so on his or her behalf. This modern adaptation [of vidui] places less emphasis on atonement for sins, and more on the bonds connecting the patient to his or her loved ones. It can be recited by a friend, family member, or chaplain on behalf of a person who is very ill, especially when life and death are hanging in the balance.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., תחינות teḥinot, וידוי vidui

Contributor(s):

Gilah Langner

A Prayer for Difficult People, by Rabbi Mark Sameth

“A Prayer for Difficult People (in two parts)” was first offered on Yom Kippur 5772 (2011) at Pleasantville Community Synagogue (Pleasantville, NY), and has since appeared in congregational newsletters, blogs, and on the website “Restless Pilgrim.” The prayer (in two parts) begins with a focus on the difficult people in our lives, then shifts and becomes a prayer that we ourselves not be difficult people in the lives of others.

Categories:

Yom Kippur Qatan, Yom Kippur, Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, חשבון הנפש Ḥeshbon HaNefesh, תשובה teshuvah, וידוים viduyim, זמן תשובה Zman teshuvah

Contributor(s):

Mark Sameth

In Search of Seraḥ: A Prayer to Seraḥ by Chaya Kaplan-Lester

[In Parshat Vayigash] we read of the members of Jacob’s family who went down to Egypt. There were 53 grandsons listed, but only a single granddaughter – Seraḥ, the daughter of Asher. The commentators wonder, what was so exceptional about this girl that her name was recorded? The Midrash spills forth with stories portraying an image of a unique and endearing Biblical heroine. Seraḥ stands as a trusted, beloved sage of the people. She possessed an uncommon gift of healing through poetry and music. Somewhat as Orpheus is to Greek myth, so is Seraḥ to the Biblical myth – the archetypal poet and bard.

Categories:

Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Ancestors, Artists, English poetry, Healing, inspiration, Prayers as poems, prayers in the name of ancestors, Seraḥ bat Asher, פרשת ויגש parashat Vayigash

Contributor(s):

Chaya Kaplan-Lester

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "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)

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