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For the Children of Newtown

Posted on: December 15th, 2012 by tobendlight

There are no words. Yet we need them. Words of consolation. Words of prayer.

This is an adaptation of “After a Deadly Rampage,” a general prayer of mourning and consolation. This adaptation reflects the sorrow and pain coming from the number of young children who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., as well as the number of families traumatized. Here’s a prayer “For Bereaved Children,” which can be said on behalf of the brothers and sisters of the victims, and a “Meditation on the Burial of a Child,” also written in response to the tragedy in Newtown. May the memories of the righteous be a blessing.

For the Children of Newtown
Author of life,
Source and Creator,
Grant a perfect rest under Your tabernacle of peace
To the victims of the massacre
In Newtown, Connecticut,
Children whose lives were cut off by violence,
All who fell at the hand of anger,
A rampage beyond understanding.
The future was severed.
Hopes, joys and dreams
Lost to brutality.
May their souls be bound up in the bond of life,
A living blessing in our midst.
May they rest in peace.

G-d of mercy,
Remember, too, the survivors of this attack,
Parents,
Sisters and brothers,
Witnesses of shock, horror and dismay.
Ease their suffering and release their trauma.
Grant them endurance to survive,
Strength to rebuild,
Faith to mourn,
And courage to heal,
So that they recover lives of joy and wonder.

Remember the families and friends
Of the dead and the bereaved
With comfort and consolation.
Grant them Your protection,
Your wholeness and healing.
May they find hope and grace.

Heavenly Guide,
Source of love,
Guard the children of Newtown.
Grant them Your shelter and solace,
Blessing and renewal.
Put an end to anger, hatred and fear
And lead us to a time when
No one will suffer at the hand of another,
Speedily, in our day.

Postscript: This prayer is an adaptation of “After a Deadly Rampage,” which is an adaptation of “For the People of Norway.” Sadly, the number of mass killings made it clear that we need a more generalized prayer. Please also see “At the Hand of Violence,” a prayer for memory of an individual victim, and “For Bereaved Children,” for the brothers and sisters of the young victims.

If you use this prayer, please click “like” on this page and subscribe. Please take a moment to post a link to your Facebook page, your blog or mention it in a tweet. Thanks. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!”

Photo Credit: The Candles Spot

Chayei Sarah 5773: Gather Me

Posted on: November 10th, 2012 by tobendlight

“And afterwards, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan.” – Genesis 23:19

“And Abraham expired and died in a good old age, old and satisfied, and he was gathered to his people.” – Genesis 25:8

Both Sarah and Abraham pass away in this week’s parasha. Here’s another meditation on preparing for death, focused on the comfort in the idea of being gathered to our people. My other meditations in preparation for death include: “Remember,” “Near the End: A Meditation” and “Things Break.”

Gather Me
Gather me unto my people,
The house of my ancestors,
The dwelling of our fathers and mothers,
The generations of our people.

This is my comfort,
O My Rock,
This is my consolation,
O my Redeemer,
That my bones will not be left behind,
That I will join the millennium,
And will reside in Your loving embrace,
In the abode of comfort and grace.

Gather me unto my people,
Unto my history,
Unto my legacy and my longing.
Let my heart and soul
Rest in peace.

Postscript: Note the reference to Genesis 50:25, in which the children of Israel vow to take Joseph’s bones out of the land of Egypt, and Exodus 13:19, which is Moses’ fulfillment of that oath. See also: “Remember,” “Near the End: A Meditation” and “Things Break.”

If you like this prayer, post a link to your Facebook page, your blog or as part of a tweet. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter. Please consider making a contribution to support this site and my writing.

Photo Credit: Chabad Jewish Center of Massachusetts.

For Donor Families

Posted on: August 15th, 2012 by tobendlight

This is a healing prayer for families of organ donors, my fifth about the gift of life. It comes directly out of our family experience. The other prayers are: “For Organ Donation,” which asks for blessings on all who make transplantation possible; “For Organ and Tissue Donation” is an adaptation of that prayer; “In Memory of An Organ Donor” honors the memory of organ donors; and “On Waiting for an Organ Transplant” is for those, suffering and perhaps near the end of life, who wait and wonder. This prayer appears in my new book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

For Donor Families
Ancient One,
G-d of healing,
Bless the family of ____________ (name),
Of righteous memory,
Who was taken from their midst.
In the time of their deepest heartbreak
They had the strength and courage,
Generosity and kindness,
To choose life by donating her / his organs
For the benefit of others.
Bring wholeness and healing to their family.
May their strength resound through the generations.
May their love never cease.
Let their gift serve as a call to others
To follow this righteous path.

Grant Your blessings upon
All who are touched by transplant,
Donors, recipients and families,
Doctors and nurses,
Clinicians and administrators,
The vast network of professionals and volunteers
Who dedicate themselves to healing.

G-d of compassion,
May this gift of life
Become a source of consolation and comfort,
Holiness and grace.

Postscript: This prayer appears in my new book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing. My other prayers for healing include: “For Surgery,” “Upon Recovery from Surgery,” “For Healing the Spirit,” “For a Critically-Ill Mother,” “For a Critically-Ill Father,” “For a Critically Ill Child” and “R’fuat HaNefesh: Healing the Soul.”

For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter. If you like this prayer, please post a link to Facebook, your blog or mention it in a tweet.

Photo Source: Doctors Health Press

Munich Massacre Memorial Prayer

Posted on: July 20th, 2012 by tobendlight

Here is a memorial prayer for the 40^th anniversary of the Munich massacre. The first stanza includes an allusion to the Eleh Ezkera, the liturgical poem that we will recite in just over a week on Tisha b’Av. The second and third stanzas are influenced strongly by this week’s attack on Israelis in Bourgas, Bulgaria. Also read this prayer “For Israel’s Olympic Athletes.”

Munich Massacre Memorial Prayer
Creator of all,
Source and shelter,
We remember as yesterday
The day of Olympic terror,
The day that our brothers,
Athletes and coaches,
Lost their lives to brutal violence
And our hearts are melting with sorrow.
We remember their joy and their dreams,
Their enthusiasm and their hope,
Their spirit and their valor,
Their love for each other
And their dedication to competition.
Grant them a perfect rest under Your tabernacle of peace.
Grant their families consolation and comfort
For Your Name’s sake
And for the sake of those who perished.

Ancient One,
Remember the virtues all who have
Died at the hand of hatred.
May their memory become our resolve
To protect our land and our people.
Watch over the defenders of Israel.
Bless them with safety and strength.
May their courage never falter.
Grant Your protection and shelter
To all who travel under the flag of Israel
In the name of cooperation, understanding and goodwill –
Athletes, musicians, performers, artists and scholars.
May their spirit be a shining light of integrity and honor.
Grant the whole house of Israel safety throughout the earth
Free from aggression and violence.

G-d of Old,
Shine a light of compassion into the world.
Put an end to malice, anger and fear.
Lead us to a time when no one will suffer at the hand of another,
A time when our people can travel without the threat of terror.
May the memories of those murdered
In the Munich massacre
Be sanctified with joy and love.
May their souls be bound up in the bond of life,
A living blessing in our midst.

Postscript: See also “For Israel’s Olympic Athletes,” “At the Hand of Anti-Semitism,” a Yizkor prayer, and “To the Terrorist,” a prayer of personal resolve to defend ourselves and for healing the mind of the terrorist. Please also read “For the Jews of France,” a prayer for safety and healing. Thanks again to my friend Brenda Epstein who suggested that I write a prayer to mark this anniversary.

If you like this prayer, post a link to your Facebook page, your blog or as part of a tweet. And don’t forget to click “like” on this page. Thanks. Please subscribe. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!”

Shoah Memorial Prayer

Posted on: April 19th, 2012 by tobendlight

זכר צדיקים לברכה
A memorial prayer for those who perished in the Holocaust. This is the centerpiece of a six-prayer Yom HaShoah liturgy. This prayer appears in my book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

Shoah Memorial Prayer
Creator of all,
Source and shelter,
Grant a perfect rest under your tabernacle of peace
To those who perished in the Holocaust,
Our fathers and mothers,
Our sisters and brothers,
Our rabbis and teachers,
Our neighbors and children,
The named and the unnamed,
Whose lives were cut off by
Brutal, vicious, cunning and calculated violence.
May they find peace in the world to come.
Remember the survivors who have since passed away,
And the virtues of our people who’ve died at the hand of malice
In every generation.
We remember the works of their hands
And the messages of their hearts.
Bless the defenders of Israel with safety and strength,
And the righteous of all nations who provide
Protection, shelter and comfort to the Jewish people.
Let their deeds be a source of favor in heaven
And healing on earth.
Put an end to anger, hatred and fear
And lead us to a time when no one will suffer at the hand of another,
Speedily, in our days.
May the memories of all who faced these horrors
Be sanctified with joy and love.
May their souls be bound up in the bond of life,
A living blessing in our midst.

Postscript: This prayer is adapted from “At the Hand of Anti-Semitism: A Yizkor Prayer.” Thanks to my friend Brenda Epstein for the suggestion. Here are two prayers appropriate for use commemorating Kristallnacht, Yom HaShoah and Tisha b’Av: “After the Horror” and “Tears of Crystal, Tears of Broken Glass.” Click here for a six-prayer Yom HaShoah liturgy.

Please check out my ELItalk “Falling in Love with Prayer” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Credit: Highland Park Conservative Temple

At the Hand of Anti-Semitism: A Yizkor Prayer

Posted on: March 21st, 2012 by tobendlight

This Yizkor prayer is for victims of anti-Semitism and it includes prayers for victims in every generation, for the defenders of Israel and for the righteous of all nations. I wrote it on the day of the funerals for Rabbi Jonathan Sandler z”l and three children, Gabriel Sandler z”l (age 4), Arieh Sandler z”l (age 5) and Miriam Monsonego z”l (age 7) – killed in Toulouse, France, in a brutal act of hatred. This prayer appears in my book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

At the Hand of Anti-Semitism: A Yizkor Prayer
Creator of all,
Source and shelter,
Grant a perfect rest under your tabernacle of peace
To ______________________ (name),
My [father / mother / sister / brother / child / wife / dear one/ friend]
Whose life was [lives were] cut off by violence,
An act of witless aggression
And calculated anti-Semitism.
We remember his / her / their wisdom, talents and skills,
Joy, laughter and tears.
We remember the works of his / her / their hands
And the message of his / her / their heart[s].
Let these memories continue to bless us
Even as we pray for him / her / them to find peace
In the world to come.
Remember the virtues of those who’ve died
At the hand of malice
In every generation.
Bless the defenders of Israel
With safety and strength,
And the righteous of all nations who
Provide protection, shelter and comfort
To our people.
Put an end to anger, hatred and fear
And lead us to a time when no one will suffer at the hand of another,
Speedily, in our days.
May the memory [memories] of _____________________ be sanctified with joy and love.
May his / her / their soul[s] be bound up in the bond of life,
A living blessing in our midst.

Postscript: This prayer is an adaptation of two of my other Yizkor prayers: “At the Hand of Violence” and “At the Hand of Terror.” Please also read “For the Jews of France,” a prayer for safety and healing. This prayer appears in my new book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

Please consider making a contribution to support this site and my writing. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo SOurce: KacholVelavan

Yizkor for First Responders

Posted on: January 14th, 2012 by tobendlight

This is a yizkor prayer for those who have died in service to others as first responders. It’s another focused yizkor prayer, including: “In Memory of an Organ Donor” and “At the Hand of Violence,” for those who died at the hand of another. To listen along, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows.

Yizkor for First Responders
G-d of the selfless,
G-d of the strong and the brave,
Grant a perfect rest among the souls of the righteous
To ______________________ (name in Hebrew or your native tongue),
My [ father / mother / sister / brother / child / wife / dear one/ friend ]
Who died in service to others [ in / during / because of ]
_________________________________________________ [name of event such as:
[the 9/11 attacks on the Unites States, the Mount Carmel forest fire, etc.].
May his/her dedication to protecting life serve as a shining lamp of love
And the works of his/her hands bring us all merit in heaven.
Bless the souls of all who have died to save others,
Civilians and professionals,
The trained and the untrained,
In every age and in every land,
Men and women who answered the call of honor, duty and service.
May the memory of _____________________ be sanctified with joy and love.
May his/her soul be bound up in the bond of life,
A living blessing in our midst.

Postscript: Here’s a “Liturgy for 9-11” and a link to more yizkor and memorial prayers.

For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. Connect with To Bend Light on Facebook and on Twitter.

Hospice Prayers

Posted on: November 16th, 2011 by tobendlight

My family now has three cousins in hospice care, at various stages of disease. Thank you to all the professionals and volunteers who make hospice work. This prayer is to be said by someone entering hospice. A second version of this prayer – one to be said on behalf of an individual who enters hospice treatment – follows below. Also find links to healing prayers and meditations on dying at the end of this post.

Upon Entering Hospice
(To be recited by a person entering hospice care.)

G-d of All Being,
The well of cures has run dry.
My physicians have been focused,
My caregivers diligent,
My family tireless
In their efforts to help me battle this disease.
The horizon of my life nears.
There is a single destination.

Ancient One,
G-d of our mothers,
G-d of our fathers,
I surrender my days to You,
As I must,
With the hopes of a dignified death,
A loving death
An easy death.
I make this choice for my own sake,
For the sake of my family and friends,
And for the sake of honoring the life You have given me.

Bless those around me with courage and strength,
Just as I ask You, Holy One,
To grant me the wisdom and ability
To show them my steadfast love,
An inheritance for the generations.

Whatever remains,
The journey hasn’t ended.
Ease my pain.
Reduce my suffering.
And bless me, G-d of my heart,
With days of joy,
With fullness of spirit
With moments of awe and wonder.

Upon Entering Hospice II
(To be recited on behalf of a person entering hospice care.)

G-d of All Being,
The well of cures has run dry.
The physicians have been focused,
The caregivers diligent,
The family tireless
In their efforts to help
My [father / mother / sister / brother / son / daughter / friend /husband / wife / partner]
Battle this disease.
The horizon of his/her life nears.
There is a single destination.

Ancient One,
G-d of our mothers,
G-d of our fathers,
Look with kindness and favor on _________________________ (insert name)
As he/she surrenders his/her days to You.

Bless us with courage and strength,
Just as I ask You, Holy One,
To grant me the wisdom and ability
To show him/her my steadfast love,
An inheritance for the generations.

Whatever remains,
The journey hasn’t ended.
Ease his/her pain.
Reduce his/her suffering.
And bless him/her with a dignified death,
A loving death
An easy death.

Postscript: Here are three meditations on the end of life:

Near the End: A Meditation – A meditation on preparing for the journey of my own death with grace and dignity, awe and wonder.
Remember – Whatever our fears, this is a call back to our deepest sense of peace and well-being.
Things Break – We face the flow of endings and beginnings. G-d’s love remains.

Click this link for a list of healing prayers.

If find these prayers meaningful, please post a link to your Facebook page, your blog or as part of a tweet. And don’t forget to click “like” on this page. Thanks. Please subscribe. For reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!”

Photo Source: Here Women Talk

Memorial and Yizkor Prayers

Posted on: September 4th, 2011 by tobendlight

Here’s a list of memorial and yizkor prayers — as well meditations and prayers on grief and mourning — with brief descriptions and links to each prayer. Some are written in the form of traditional yizkor prayers and focus on classic themes of mourning. Others address modern social issues, such as organ donation and death by violence. Here’s a link to prayers for Yom HaShoah. To read a particular prayer, click on the title.

Yizkor Prayers

In Memory of an Organ Donor – For an organ donor
At the Hand of Violence – For one who dies by violence
Yizkor for a Lone Soldier – For a Lone Soldier in the IDF
After a Sudden Death – When death comes out of the blue
At the Hand of Anti-Semitism – For those who die as the result of anti-Semitism
Yizkor for First Responders – To be said for first responders, particularly those died in the line of duty; part of “A Liturgy for 9-11”

Memorial Prayers

On Lighting a Memorial Candle – A meditation
At the Hand of Terror – For all who died as a result of 9-11
Memorial Prayer for 9-11 First Responders – For 9-11 first responders
At the Hand of Terror II – A 9-11 memorial
In Memorium: Sandy Hook – A memorial prayer
For the Children of Newtown – For victims and survivors
After a Deadly Anti-Semetic Attack – A memorial prayer
Bombing at the Boston Marathon – For victims and survivors
Munich Massacre Memorial Prayer – A memorial
The Soldiers on this Mountain – Har Hertzl welcomes new heroes

Grief

After Shiva – For healing in the quiet after a shiva ends
For the Bereaved – A prayer for healing from grief after a death
For Bereaved Children – For children facing a loved-one’s death
Meditation on the Burial of a Young Child – A moment of sorrow
This Wound – Seeking G-d’s help to heal
Shall I Cry? – Love is a thing of this earth
For Healing the Spirit – A call to heal
Regarding Old Wounds – Let go of the past
R’fuat HaNefesh – Healing the soul
Private Meditation of the Death of a Beloved Public Figure – For scholars, teachers and others

Meditations Near the End of Life

Near the End: A Meditation – On reaching the end
Angel of Rest – When the angel of death arrives
Things Break – On the fragility of life
Every Beginning – Every beginning brings an ending
Dwelling Place – This is my dying place
Gather Me – My bones will not be left behind
Season of Sorrow – A season for every emotion
On the Journey to My Child’s Passing – A parent’s prayer

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

At the Hand of Terror: A 9-11 Yizkor Prayer

Posted on: September 3rd, 2011 by tobendlight

This is a 9-11 yizkor prayer to be said in memory of a specific individual. This prayer has also been adapted into a general memorial prayer for all of those who lost their lives in the 9-11 attacks. Both prayers are part of “A Liturgy for 9-11.” To listen along, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows. This will appear in my forthcoming book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

At the Hand of Terror: A 9-11 Yizkor Prayer
Creator of all,
Source and shelter,
Grant a perfect rest under your tabernacle of peace
To ______________________ (name in Hebrew or your native tongue),
My [father / mother / sister / brother / child / wife / dear one/ friend]
Who died [in / during / because of]
The 9/11 attacks on the United States.
Remember the works of his/her hands
And the message of his/her heart.
Remember all those who were lost in the terror of that day.
Grant their families peace and comfort for Your name’s sake
And for the sake of those who perished.
Bring an end to violence and terror,
Speedily, in our days.
May the memory of _____________________ be sanctified with joy and love.
May his/her soul be bound up in the bond of life,
A living blessing in our midst.

Postscript: Here’s a link to “A Liturgy for 9-11,” which does not have audio. Here are links to individual 9-11 prayers with audio: “For 9-11 Survivors,” “To the Terrorist,” “At the Hand of Terror II: A 9-11 Memorial Prayer” and “Memorial Prayer for 9-11 First Responders.”

Please consider making a contribution to support this site and my writing. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Source: Boldly Go Solo photo of the 9/11 Living Memorial in Israel, a billowing American flag, partly surrounded on its circular plaza by the names of the more than 3,000 people who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The waving flag is meant to resemble an eternal flame. Israel is the only country outside the U.S. that memorializes the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. It is outside of Jerusalem.