Tag Archive for "fear" | To Bend Light

Posts Tagged ‘fear’

This Watching, This Waiting (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Dementia)

Posted on: February 19th, 2014 by Alden

This is a prayer to be said by the spouse or partner of someone whose Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or dementia has progressed to the point where physical abilities, memory and/or cognition deteriorate drastically. It recognizes the pain of watching as a disease strips away the essence of your beloved. It’s one of four related prayers that appear in my new book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

This Watching, This Waiting (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Dementia)
This watching,
G-d of Old,
This watching my [husband/wife/spouse/partner]
Slowly lose himself/herself to disease
Is a grief beyond my imagination.
Talents and personality,
Plans and dreams,
Moments of conversation,
Moments of pleasure,
Departing stage-by-stage.

Who is this person inhabiting his/her body?
Where are your memories of our life together?

This waiting,
G-d of Old,
This waiting for the next loss to come
Is a grief beyond my imagination.
Grant me strength and wisdom,
Fortitude and courage,
As the days pass,
As the waiting continues,
As I pray for his/her consolation and peace.

Postscript: Here are links to related prayers: “To a Spouse/Partner on Diagnosis with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease” and “Diagnosis with Alzheimer’s or Dementia” and “Diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease.” Here are prayers for “R’fuat HaNefesh” and “For Healing the Spirit.” All of these prayers appear in my new book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

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Photo Source: USPS

The Dark Corners

Posted on: February 15th, 2014 by Alden

Fear, sorrow and doubt cannot defeat the light of holiness, unless you let them. This prayer acknowledges difficult moments and emotions, offering the classic Jewish response to facing them with strength and dignity: Torah, tefilah (prayer) and mitzvot (acts of righteousness).

This piece is part of “Three Prayers,” in which three of my prayers are set to original choreography by Lin Batsheva Kahn of the Tikvah Company of Artists and original cello music by Desiree Miller of the Chicago Civic Orchestra. “Three Prayers” premieres in Jerusalem in June 2014 as part of an evening of dance and poetry by Miriam Engel’s Angela Dance Company. To listen to the music performed by Desiree, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows.

The Dark Corners
Fear lurks
In the dark corners of my heart,
Waiting to convince me
That love will fail.

Sorrow lurks
In the dark corners of my soul,
Waiting to convince me
That faith will fail.

Doubt lurks
In the dark corners of my mind,
Waiting to convince me
That wisdom will fail.

Rock of Jacob,
Teach me to shine
The light of mitzvot
Into the dark corners of my mind,
So that I face my fears with courage
Redeeming them with awe and wonder.

Song of Miriam,
Teach me to shine
The light of tefilot
Into the dark corners of my soul,
So that I face my sorrows with strength
Redeeming them with righteousness.

G-d of Old,
Teach me to shine
The light of Torah
Into the dark corners of my mind,
So that I face my doubts with honor
Redeeming them with holiness.

Postscript: This prayer will appear in my forthcoming book, Prayers from the Heart of Darkness.Consider using this as a slichot meditation during the month of Elul. Here are links to prayers about specific challenging emotions, including “Doubt,” “Fear,” “Anger” and “Shame.”

Photo Source: WikiMedia Commons

For the Missing, Caleb Jacoby

Posted on: January 9th, 2014 by Alden

This is a prayer for a missing person, posted here for Caleb Jacoby. This prayer is to be said on behalf of someone whose name is known but is out of one’s personal circle, such as when a missing person is named in the news. Here’s a link to the generic version, without Caleb’s name filled in. I previously posted a prayer to be said for a specific missing person in one’s family or circle of friends. Optional word selections are identified with a slash (“/”). In coming weeks I’ll post one more version: a general prayer for all missing persons.

UPDATE, Jan. 10: Caleb has been found, safe and sound.

For the Missing
G-d of the frightened,
G-d of the missing and the lost,
Return Caleb Jacoby
To the cradle of his family’s arms
And the refuge of their home
Speedily, in life and in health.
Watch over him. Protect him.
Shelter him from harm.
Deliver him from evil acts and evil intent.
Bless the professionals and volunteers dedicated to his return.
Grant them skill, insight, fortitude and luck.

G-d of Old,
These hours/days
Of dismay and dread are almost too much to bear.
Grant his family endurance, hope and faith
That they will soon be reunited with Caleb
In the fullness of joy.

Holy One,
Protector and Redeemer,
Hear this/my/our prayer.

Postscript: Here’s a link to “For the Missing (Specific Person in My Family).” Please consider purchasing my new book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

Photo Source: Tablet Magazine

For the Missing (Specific Person, Non-Relative)

Posted on: October 24th, 2013 by tobendlight

This is a prayer for a missing person. This prayer is to be said on behalf of someone whose name is known but is out of one’s personal circle, such as when a missing person is named in the news. Here’s a link to a prayer to be said for a specific missing person in one’s family or circle of friends. Gender selections are identified with a slash (“his/her”). In coming weeks I’ll post one more version: a general prayer for all missing persons.

Addendum, Aug. 26, 2014: Aaron Sofer disappeared during a hike in the Jerusalem Forest on Friday. Please pray for his safe return. This prayer was originally posted in 2013 on behalf of a missing 14-year old, mute, severely-autistic teen, Avonte Oquendo, who’s remains were found months later.

For the Missing (Specific Person, Non-Relative)
G-d of the frightened,
G-d of the missing and the lost,
Return ___________________________ [full name]
To the cradle of his/her family’s arms
And the refuge of their home
Speedily, in life and in health.
Watch over her/him. Protect her/him.
Shelter her/him from harm.
Deliver her/him from evil acts and evil intent.
Bless the professionals [and volunteers] dedicated to her/his return.
Grant them skill, insight, fortitude and luck.

G-d of Old,
These [hours/days/weeks/months/years]
Of dismay and dread are almost too much to bear.
Grant his/her family endurance, hope and faith
That they will soon be reunited with ___________ [first name]
In the fullness of joy.

Holy One,
Protector and Redeemer,
Hear this/my/our prayer.

Postscript: Here’s a link to “For the Missing (Specific Person in My Family).”

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Photo Source: Times of Israel

Remembering 9-11 Survivors

Posted on: September 10th, 2013 by tobendlight

To honor their journey, here’s my prayer “For 9-11 Survivors.” Looking for a photo to go with this prayer was painful. I can’t imagine what the anniversary is like for survivors, their families and friends. I selected this photo after finding it on a site called “The Prayer Circle Leader” illustrating this prayer, which will appear in my forthcoming book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing. To listen, click on the triangle below. The text follows.

For 9-11 Survivors
G-d of the survivor,
G-d of the mourner and the witness,
Grant solace and peace to those still held by physical, emotional and spiritual distress from the attacks of 9-11. Release them from visions of death and destruction, from guilt or shame, from fear or anger. Bind their wounds with Your steadfast
love. Lift them on Your wings of kindness and grace.

Blessed are those who have found peace.

Blessed are those without tranquility.

Blessed are those who speak.

Blessed are those who stay silent.

Blessed are those who have healed.

Blessed are those who suffer.

Blessed are those who forgive.

Blessed are those who cannot forgive.

Blessed are You, Adonai our G-d, Source of strength for survivors of violence and tragedy in every land and in every age. Blessed are You, Rock of Israel, Source of hope and comfort.

Postscript: It was first posted as part of “A Liturgy for 9-11” written for the HUC-JIR continuing education blog Tzeh U’limad to provide clergy with resources for the upcoming 10th anniversary of the attack. That post includes an overview the concerns I felt while developing the liturgy. Here are links to individual 9-11 prayers: “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.” This is an annotated list of prayers suitable for public and private memorials, including links to prayers specifically written about 9-11 and others that are fitting for a commemoration.

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: The Prayer Circle Leader

Resources for 9/11

Posted on: September 7th, 2013 by tobendlight

Individuals and clergy members continue to look for meaningful prayers and meditations to use to commemorate the attacks of September 11, 2001. Here’s an annotated list of prayers suitable for public and private memorials, including “A Liturgy for 9-11,” written for the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the U.S. Please email this page to anyone who may be in need of a memorial prayer or a prayer for healing.

Memorial Prayers

At the Hand of Terror: A 9-11 Yizkor Prayer – A memorial prayer to be said for specific victims
At the Hand of Terror II: A 9-11 Memorial Prayer – A general memorial prayer to be said for all victims
Memorial Prayer for 9-11 First Responders – To honor the fallen first responders
At the Hand of Violence: A Yizkor Prayer – A memorial all who died by violence

For Survivors

For 9-11 Survivors – For healing 9/11 survivors
For Terror Survivors – For healing terror survivors
For Bereaved Children – For healing children who’ve lost parents
For the Bereaved – For healing all who are bereaved

Prayers for a Better World

For First Responders – For the safety of all first responders
To the Terrorist – For the terrorist to find a new path
Against Tyranny – A prayer against oppressive regimes

The original four prayers in “A Liturgy for 9-11” were written to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attack. See that post to read the story of how and why I wrote these prayers. The response to the original post was overwhelming. Here’s a link to an overview of some of the ways these prayers were used as part of 10th commemoration activities.

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Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons, the “Tribute in Light” memorial is composed of two banks of high wattage spotlights that point straight up from a lot next to Ground Zero. The photo was taken from Liberty State Park, N.J., on the five-year anniversary of 9/11.

Prayer for the People of London

Posted on: July 7th, 2013 by tobendlight

This is a new memorial prayer for the victims of the 7 July London bombings. It’s an adaptation of prayers I wrote in response to violence in Norway and attacks in Mumbai, which were based on two of my other prayers, “At the Hand of Violence” and “In Devastation.” I also used these prayers as the basis of a piece called “For the Jews of France” which has been translated of into French as “Aux Juifs de France.”

For the People of London
Author of life,
Grant peace and consolation
To the victims of terror in London,
Where 52 innocents were murdered,
Where more than 700 were wounded,
And where the heart of a democratic nation was attacked,
In an act of calculated terror.

Source and Creator,
Grant a perfect rest under your tabernacle of peace
To the victims of the 7/7 bombings,
Men and women whose lives were cut off
In an act of witless aggression.
Remember the survivors of this horror.
May the years that have passed,
And the years to come,
Grant them shelter and solace,
Comfort and consolation,
Blessing and courage.
May their healing —
And the healing of this nation —
Continue with devotion and courage.

Heavenly Guide,
Hand of love and shelter,
Put an end to anger and hatred,
Bigotry and fear.
Let terrorists put down their weapons
To discover a new path.
May the victims of all violence
Find hope and renewal.
Lead us to a time when no one
Suffers or dies at the hand of another.

Postscript: I wasn’t writing prayers when the 7/7 or the 9/11 attacks took place. I wrote my first 9/11 prayers for the 10th memorial year after that attack. Perhaps, for the 10th memorial year of the 7/7 bombings, I will write full liturgy. Here’s my “Liturgy for 9-11,” including a prayer called “To the Terrorist.”

Photo credit: WikiMedia Commons

Memorial Prayer for First Responders

Posted on: July 1st, 2013 by tobendlight

This is a memorial prayer for first responders, posted today for the fire fighters who lost their lives battling the Yarnell Hill fire. It’s group prayer for those who have lost their lives responding to specific emergencies. It’s modified from “Yizkor for First Responders,” a prayer for individual first responders that I first posted as part of “A Liturgy for 9-11.” I previously posted a specific version of this prayer for 9/11 first responders. For those of you with family and friends who serve in this capacity, here’s a prayer “For First Responders” as they head off into service to others.

Memorial Prayer 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 those who died in service to others during the
_________________________________________________ [ add name of event such as: the 9/11 attacks, the Mount Carmel fire, the Yarnell fire, etc.].
May their dedication to protecting life serve as a shining lamp of love
And the works of their 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 their memories be sanctified with joy and love.
May their souls 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” and a prayer “For First Responders” as they head off into service to others.

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Photo Source: NOAA

For the Missing (Specific Person in My Family)

Posted on: June 30th, 2013 by tobendlight

Here’s a prayer to be said on behalf of a missing person. This is for a specific person in one’s family or circle of friends, such as – G-d forbid – a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, a hiking accident, an abduction or an Alzheimer’s patient disappearing. Gender selections are identified with a slash (“his/her”). In coming weeks I’ll post two additional versions: one to be said on behalf of someone whose name is known but is out of one’s personal circle – such as when a missing person is named in the news – and a general prayer for all missing persons.

For the Missing (Specific Person in My Family)
G-d of the frightened,
G-d of the missing and the lost,
Return my [father/mother/sister/brother/son/daughter/friend/husband/wife/partner]
___________________________ [full name]
To the cradle of my arms
And the refuge of our home
Speedily, in life and in health.
Watch over her/him. Protect her/him.
Shelter her/him from harm.
Deliver her/him from evil acts and evil intent.
Bless the professionals [and volunteers] dedicated to her/his return.
Grant them skill, insight, fortitude and luck.

G-d of Old,
These [hours/days/weeks/months/years]
Of dismay and dread are almost too much to bear.
Grant me [and my family] endurance, hope and faith
That I/we will soon be reunited with ___________ [first name]
In the fullness of joy.

Holy One,
Protector and Redeemer,
Hear [this/my/our] prayer.

Postscript: Here are two prayers about family, one “For Family” and another for “Family Healing.”

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 Source: New York City Fire Department

For the People of the United States, From Israel

Posted on: April 19th, 2013 by tobendlight

As events unfold in Greater Boston, here’s a new prayer for the people of the United States, written from Israel. Although this prayer is aimed at the immediate wound of the Boston Marathon bombings, it carries a sensitivity toward other violence and tragedy. Here are two prayers which I previously posted in the wake of the bombings: “Bombing at the Boston Marathon” and “For Terror Survivors.”

For the People of the United States, From Israel
Ancient One,
Source and Creator,
Grant the people of the United States,
The citizens of Massachusetts,
And the greater community of Boston
Safety and shelter,
In these hours and days of fear and dread.
We, too, know the sound of gun fire,
The echo of explosions,
The terror and pain,
The loss and dismay,
The long wait for news
And long journey to heal.

As we remember the victims and survivors of this horror,
We also remember the suffering and despair that has
Wounded the nation:
School shootings,
Factory explosions,
Coal mine disasters,
Domestic terror,
Family violence and
International terror.

Renew this land, G-d of Old.
Protect the residents from physical harm.

Restore this people, G-d of Justice.
Shield them from emotional pain.

Heal this nation, G-d of Mercy.
Bind these wounds with your steadfast love.

Heavenly Guide,
Hand of consolation and shelter,
Grant the people of the United States Your protection
Your wholeness and peace.

Postscript: Click here to read the entire Liturgy for 9-11, including an overview of concerns that emerged in developing these prayers. It also includes suggestions for other prayers that fit with the themes of 9-11. Here are links to “To the Terrorist” and “Memorial Prayer for 9-11 First Responders.”

Photo Credit: TV image from a Facebook post