[Prayer] in Sickness, by Lilian Helen Montagu (1895)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=50630

Date: 2023-05-07

Last Updated: 2025-02-02

Categories: Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags: 19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Jewish Women's Prayers, teḥinot in English, West Central Girls' Club, תחינות teḥinot

Excerpt: "In Sickness" was written by Lilian Helen Montagu and published in Prayers for Jewish Working Girls (1895), page 25. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	In sickness.
	Lord, my God!— Sickness has come upon me. I am in pain.
	O Lord, give me strength and courage, and let my spirit not falter!
	Lord, I believe in Thee; in Thee alone do I put my trust. Thou art my God. I shall not be afraid.
	Let me bear this suffering with courage, and if it please Thee to allow me to recover, let me use my health and strength in Thy service.
	Whilst I have faith in Thee I know that my spirit is not diseased. It is only my body, the dwelling-place of my soul, which requires healing.
	O Lord, if it please Thee to cause my body to die, I know I shall still live, and therefore I am not afraid.
	O Lord, spare and protect my parents, sisters, brothers, and friends; let no evil come upon them.
	Grant faith and courage to other sufferers. Believe our pain by Thy heavenly light. Deliver all those who are languishing in the bondage of sin. Draw us all near to Thee.
	O Lord, may Thy will be done!
	O, my God, be not far fron me. Make haste to help me, Lord, my salvation! (Psalms 22:19)

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“In Sickness” was written by Lilian Helen Montagu and published in Prayers for Jewish Working Girls (1895), page 25.

Source(s)

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Lilian Helen Montagu
  Bio: The Hon. Lilian Helen "Lily" Montagu, CBE (22 December 1873 – 22 January 1963) was the first woman to play a major role in Progressive Judaism. Until the age of 15, she was educated at Doreck College, and privately educated thereafter. In 1893 she founded with Emily Marion Harris the West Central Jewish Girls Club (which subsequently merged into the Jewish Girls' Brigade). She was active in social improvement, particularly in respect to unemployment, sweat shops and bad housing. In 1901 and 1902, Montagu laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Jewish Religious Union in London. In February 1902 she arranged the first meeting of the Jewish Religious Union for the Advancement of Liberal Judaism at her sister Henrietta Franklin's house. The Union set up the first synagogue in Liberal Judaism in the UK and helped found the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Montagu was a founding member with her sister of the Jewish League for Woman Suffrage. She sat on the executive committee and led the meetings in prayer. Following the retirement of Leo Baeck, Montagu served for a brief stint (1955–1959) in her 80s as president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, before handing the reins over to Solomon Freehof.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Montagu
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/lilian-helen-montagu
• 
  Name: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
  Bio: Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)
  Website: https://aharon.varady.net
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/aharon-varady-transcription

Featured Image:

Title: in sickness (Lilian H. Montagu 1895) – cropped
Caption: