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

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=3650

open_content_license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license date_src_start: 2011-08-17 date_src_end: 2011-08-17 languages_meta: [{"name":"English","code":"eng","standard":"ISO 639-3"},{"name":"Hebrew","code":"heb","standard":"ISO 639-3"}] scripts_meta: [{"name":"Latin","code":"Latn","standard":"ISO 15924"},{"name":"Hebrew (Ktav Ashuri)","code":"Hebr","standard":"ISO 15924"}]

Date: 2011-08-17

Last Updated: 2025-04-11

Categories: Well-being, health, and caregiving

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

Excerpt: 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. . . .


Content:
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. In memory of Dr. Paul Woolf z”l.

Contribute a translation Source (English)
Our God and God of our ancestors,
we acknowledge that all of life is in Your hands.
We pray for healing for this beloved (woman/man). 
May (she/he) be filled and embraced
by a complete and healing love and forgiveness. 
May (she/he) always know how precious (his/her) life is
to those who love (her/him).
Protect ___________’s beloved family: ___________________________.
Their souls are woven together for all time.
Grant hope and strength to _____________’s family and caregivers,
guiding their hands and hearts and decisions
with wisdom, loving care, and skill.
כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָּךְ
לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ׃ (תהלים צא:יא)
May angels be appointed for (her/him),
to guard (her/him) in all (her/his) paths. (Psalms 91:11)

Ki malakhav yetzaveh lakh,
lishmorkha b’khol d’rakheh-kha.

In Your hand lies (her/his) spirit. 
In Your Great Name, You hold the life and memories of each soul on earth.
You redeem us, Adonai, God of Truth. 
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל
יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ
יְיָ אֶחָד׃ (דברים ו:ד)
Hear O Israel:
[YHVH | Adonai] is our God,
[YHVH | Adonai] is One. (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Shma Yisrael
Adonai Eloheinu
Adonai Echad.

 

Contributor: Gilah Langner

Co-authors:

Featured Image:
The Undergrowth in the Forest of Saint-Germain (Claude Monet 1882)
Title: The Undergrowth in the Forest of Saint-Germain (Claude Monet 1882)
Caption: The Undergrowth in the Forest of Saint-Germain (Claude Monet 1882)