Blessings and prayer for healing after the return of the first hostages in the Three-Phase Ceasefire Agreement — by Rabbi Nathalie Lastreger (Masorti Family Minyan, Kfar Vradim)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=59676

Date: 2025-01-19

Last Updated: 2025-06-06

Categories: Slavery & Captivity

Tags: 2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Three-phase Israel–Hamas war ceasefire agreement

Excerpt: This prayer was composed with gratitude by Rabbi Nathalie Lastreger, the Masorti minyan in Kfar Vradim. The prayer was first published to Rabbi Nathalie Lastreger's Facebook page on 19 January 2025. The English translation was offered in a Facebook post by Susan Rand-Lakritz to accompany a video of the prayer being offered. . . .

Content:

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
בהתרגשות, בגיל ורעדה, שהחיינו וקיימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה.	With excitement, in this terrifying period, that we have lived and been sustained and brought to this moment.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם מַתִּיר אֲסוּרוֹת׃	Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who releases the bound.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה׃	Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, for having granted us life, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתִּשְׁמֹר, וְתִנְצֹר, וּתְחַזֵּק, וּתְרוֹמֵם, וְתַרְגִּיעַ, וְתַעֲטֹף אֶת רוֹמִי בַּת מֵרַב וְאֵיתָן אֱמִּילִי־תְּהִלָּה בַּת אָמַנְדָּה דוֹרוֹן בַּת סִימוֹנַהּ פְּדוּיוֹת הַשֶּׁבִי, אֲשֶׁר חָזְרוּ לְחֵיק מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיהֶן לְאַחַר 471 לֵילוֹת וְיָמִים.	May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors, that You will protect, guard, strengthen, uplift, comfort, and give strength to: Romi daughter of Merav and Eitan Emily-Tehila daughter of Amanda Doron daughter of Simona Our cherished, redeemed captives who have returned to their families’ embrace after 471 nights and days.
אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ, אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ, אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ חַבֵּק בְּאֶבְרַת חַסְדְּךָ אוֹתָן וְאֶת אוֹהֲבֵיהֶן שֶׁסְּבִיבָן, וְתֵן לָהֶן הַכּוֹחַ לָלֶכֶת בַּדֶּרֶךְ הָאֲרֻכָּה חֲזָרָה לְעַצְמָן, בַּגּוּף וּבַנֶּפֶשׁ.	Please, God, heal her. Please, God, heal her. Please, God, heal her. Embrace them and their loved ones with Your loving-kindness, and give them the strength for the long road back to wholeness in body and soul.
הָרֹפֵא לִשְׁבוּרֵי לֵב וּמְחַבֵּשׁ לְעַצְבוּתָן, חֲבוֹשׁ אֶת יִסּוּרֵיהֶן, רְפָא אֶת פִּצְעֵיהֶן, וַעֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן תָּקֹמְנָה אֶל הַמָּחָר מִתּוֹךְ עֹז רוּחַ וְאֶמוּנָה בְּטוֹב הָאָדָם וּבְיֹפִי הַחַיִּים.	You who heal the broken-hearted and cure all wounds, bind up their suffering, heal their wounds, and enable them to rise to the morrow with renewed strength and faith In the goodness of humanity and the beauty of life.
וְאֵין לְפָנֶיךָ וּלְפָנֵינוּ מִצְוָה גְּדוֹלָה יוֹתֵר מִפִּדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיוֹת וּשְׁבוּיִים. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהִתְקַיֵּם בָּהֶן הַכָּתוּב: ”וּפְדוּיֵי ה׳ יְשֻׁבוּן וּבָאוּ צִיּוֹן בְּרִנָּה“, (ישעיה לה:י, ישעיה נא:יא) נִזְכֶּה בִּמְהֵרָה לָשׁוּב יֶתֶר כָּל אַחֵינוּ וְאַחְיוֹתֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר נוֹתְרוּ בַּשֶּׁבִי, מִי בְּשִׂמְחָה – לְחַיִּים וְלשִּׁקּוּם, וּמִי בּצַעַר – לִמְנוּחַת עוֹלָמִים. וְיִתְקַיֵּם בָּנוּ ”וְשָׁבוּ בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת לִגְבוּלָם“ (ע״פ ירמיהו לא:יז) וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן	There is no greater mitsvah before You and before us than the redemption of captives. Just as it is written, “And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with song” (Isaiah 35:10, Isaiah 51:11), may we soon see the return of ALL our brothers and sisters who remain in captivity. Those who are living should return to their homes for full rehabilitation and live their lives in joy. And those who are no longer alive, with all the sorrow, will be returned to eternal rest. May all our “sons and daughters return to these borders,” (Cf. Jeremiah 31:17) Amen.

---

התפילה חוברה בהתרגשות והודיה ע”י הרבה נטלי לסטרגר, קהילת המניין המשפחתי המסורתי כפר ורדים

This prayer was composed with gratitude by Rabbi Nathalie Lastreger, the Masorti minyan in Kfar Vradim. The prayer was first published to Rabbi Nathalie Lastreger’s Facebook page on 19 January 2025. The English translation was offered in a Facebook post by Susan Rand-Lakritz to accompany a video of the prayer being offered.

Source(s)

Blessings and Prayer for Healing after the return of the first hostages in the ceasefire agreement (Nathalie Lastreger, 19 January 2025)

 

Contributor: Nathalie Lastreger

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Nathalie Lastreger
  Bio: Rabbi Nathalie Lastreger, ordained at the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, serves as the spiritual leader of the Masorti Family Minyan in the northern Israeli community of Kfar Vradim.
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/nathalie-lastreger
• 
  Name: the Masorti Movement in Israel
  Bio: HaTenu'ah haMasortit (התנועה המסורתית, the Masorti Movement in Israel) creates opportunities for all Jews to live Jewish lives in Israel unhindered, and on their own terms. It is a religious movement based on values of inclusion combined with traditional practice and Halakha (Jewish Law). Masorti represents a “third” way. Not secular Judaism. Not ultra-Orthodoxy. But a Jewish life that integrates secular beliefs. Halakhah with inclusion and egalitarianism. Tradition that recognizes the realities of today’s world. The Masorti Movement is committed to a pluralistic, egalitarian, and democratic vision of Zionism. Masorti engages tens of thousands of Israelis each year, young and old, native born as well as olim from around the globe.
  Website: http://www.masorti.org.il
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/masorti-foundation

Featured Image:

Title: Celebration in Kfar Vardim after the return of the first three captives in the Three Phase Ceasefire Agreement (19 January 2025)
Caption: Celebration in Kfar Vardim after the return of the first three captives in the Three Phase Ceasefire Agreement (19 January 2025)