Service
of
Healing
for
Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre
Jewish Eldercare Centre of Montreal
Rabbi Michael Wolff and Peggy Pardo
1
Ha neshama lach
V’ha guf pa-alach
Chusa, chusa
Al amalach
Ha Neshama Lach
Klme la hox hox Klep Pwghw Kl hmsnh
The soul is yours
and the body that you formed.
Have mercy
on the work of your hands.
Inspire US
Rabbi:
Heavenly Father, we have come together to pray as a community.
Yet each of us is strangely solitary in Your presence.
Together:
Each of us comes before You with special hopes and dreams.
Each of us has personal worries and concerns.
Each of us has a prayer no one else can utter.
Each of us brings praise no one else can offer.
Rabbi:
Each of us feels a joy no one else can share;
Each of us has regrets that others cannot know.
And so, we pray:
Together:
If we are weary, give us strength,
If we are discouraged, give us hope.
If we have forgotten how to pray, remind us,
If we have been careless of time, forgive us.
Rabbi:
If our hearts have been chilled by indifference,
Warm them with Your mercy
And inspire us with Your glowing spirit.
Kavanah (The Intention)
Together:
Healing is both an exercise and an understanding
And yet not of the will nor of the intention
It is a wisdom and a deeper knowledge
Of the daily swing of life and death in all creation.
2
Esa Einai Psalm 121: 1&2 by Reb Shlomo Carlbach
yrze awby Nyam Nyam Myrhh la ynye asa
Uraw Myms hse ‘h Mem yrze
Esa einai el heharim me - ayin me - ayin yavo ezri
x2
Ezri me-im Adonai oseh shamayim v’aretz
x2
I lift up my eyes up to the mountains; where will I find my help?
My help comes from my G-d, Maker of heaven and earth
x2
x2
Psalm 121
‫ֶהרִים‬
ָּׂ ‫ה‬-‫ אֶל‬,‫ֶשא עֵינַי‬
ָּׂ ‫ִשיר ַל ַמעֲלֹות א‬
Shir la ma’a lot, esa einai el heharim
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains
‫מֵַאיִן יָּׂבֹא ֶעזְרִי‬
Me ayin yavo ezri
from where does my help come?
‫עֹשה ָּׂש ַמיִם וָָּׂארֶץ‬
ֵ '‫ֶעזְרִי ֵמעִם ה‬
Ezri meim ha Shem oseh shamayim v’aretz
My help comes from the Lord maker of heaven and earth
‫ֶך‬
ָּׂ ‫ֶך ַאל יָּׂנּום שֹ ְמר‬
ָּׂ ‫ַאל יִתֵן לַמֹוט ַרגְל‬
Al yiten lamot raglecha al yanum shom’recha
He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not sleep
‫ִש ָּׂראֵל‬
ְ ‫ִישן שֹומֵר י‬
ָּׂ ‫ִהנֵה לא יָּׂנּום וְלֹא י‬
Hine lo yanum, v’lo yishan shomer Yisrael
Behold, He who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps
‫ֶך‬
ָּׂ ‫יַד יְמִינ‬-‫ְך עַל‬
ָּׂ ‫ֶך ה' ִצל‬
ָּׂ ‫ה' שֹ ְמר‬
Ha Shem shom’recha ha Shem tsil’cha
The Lord is your keeper
Al yad yeminecha
The Lord is your shade on your right hand
‫ַליְלָּׂה‬
ָּׂ ‫ַשמֶש לֹא יַכֶכָּׂה וְיָּׂ ֵר ַח ב‬
ֶ ‫יֹומָּׂם ה‬
Yomam ha shemesh lo yakeka
Veyareach balaila
The sun shall not smite you by day
Nor the moon by night
‫ְש ָּׂך‬
ֶ ‫נַפ‬-‫ִשמֹר אֶת‬
ְ ‫ְך מִכָּׂל רָּׂע י‬
ָּׂ ‫ִש ָּׂמר‬
ְ ‫ה' י‬
Ha Shem yishmor’cha mikol rah
Yishmor et nafshecha
The Lord will keep you from all evil
He will guard your soul
‫עֹולָּׂם‬-‫ַתה וְעַד‬
ָּׂ ‫ֶך ֵמע‬
ָּׂ ‫ְך ּובֹוא‬
ָּׂ ‫צֵאת‬-‫ִשמָּׂר‬
ְ ‫ה' י‬
Ha Shem yishmor tsetcha uvo’echa
Me’ata ve’ad olam
The Lord will guard your going out and your
coming in from this time forth and forever
3
23rd Psalm
HaShem ro-i lo echsar
Binot deshe yarbitzeini
Al mei m’nuchot y’nahaleini
Nafshi y’shoveiv
Yan’cheini v’maglei tzedek l’ma-an sh’mo
Gam ki eilech b’gei tzalmavet
Lo ira ra ki ata imadi
Shivtecha umishantecha
Heima y’anachamuni
Taroch l’fanai shulchan neged tzor’rai
Dishanta ba shemen roshi kosi r’vaya.
Ach tov vachesed yir-d’funi
Kol y’mei chay-yai
V’shavti b’veit haShem l’orech yamim.
‫ה' רֹועִי לֹא ֶאחְסָּׂר‬
‫ֶשא יַ ְרבִי ֵצנִי‬
ֶ ‫ִבנְאֹות ד‬
‫מֵי ְמנֻחֹות יְנַ ֲה ֵלנִי‬-‫עַל‬
‫ְשי יְשֹובֵב‬
ִ ‫נַפ‬
‫ ֶצדֶק ְל ַמעַן ְשמֹו‬-‫יַנְ ֵחנִי ְב ַמ ְעגְלֵי‬
‫ ֵא ֵל ְך ְבגֵיא ַצלְמָּׂות‬-‫גַם כִי‬
‫ִמ ִדי‬
ָּׂ ‫ַאתָּׂה ע‬-‫לֹא אִירָּׂא רָּׂע כִי‬
‫ֶך‬
ָּׂ ‫ִש ַענְת‬
ְ ‫ְך ּומ‬
ָּׂ ‫ִש ְבט‬
‫הֵמָּׂה יְנַ ֲח ֻמנִי‬
‫ְפנַי ֻש ְלחָּׂן נֶגֶד צֹורְרָּׂי‬
ָּׂ ‫ַתעֲרֹו ְך ל‬
‫ראשי כֹוסִי רְוָּׂיָּׂה‬
ִ ‫ַשמֶן‬
ֶ ‫ְת ב‬
ָּׂ ‫ִשנ‬
ַ‫ד‬
‫ַא ְך טֹוב וָּׂ ֶחסֶד יִ ְרדְפּונִי‬
‫יְמֵי חַיָּׂי‬-‫כָּׂל‬
‫ ה' לְאֹו ֶר ְך יָּׂמִים‬-‫ְש ְבתִי ְבבֵית‬
ַ‫ו‬
The L-RD is my shepherd, I’ll not want; He makes me down to lie
In pastures green He leadeth me, the quiet waters by
My soul He doth restore and me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake
Yeah though I walk through death’s dark vale, I will fear no ill
For You are with me, Your rod, Your staff, they comfort me still
My table, You have prepared, in presence of my foes
My head You do anoint, my cup overflows
Goodness and mercy all my life, surely shall follow me
And in G-d’s house forevermore, my dwelling shall be
4
A Prayer for Prayer
Rabbi:
O my G-d, my soul’s compassion
My heart’s precious friend, I turn to You.
Together:
I need to close out the noise
To rise above the noise
The noise that separates, the noise that isolates
I need to hear You again.
Rabbi:
In the silence of my innermost being
In the fragments of my yearned-for wholeness
Hear whispers of Your presence
Echoes of the past when You were with me
When together we walked
When You held me close,
Embraced me in Your love
Laughed with me in my joy
I yearn to hear You again
In Your oneness, I find healing.
In the promise of Your love, I am soothed.
In Your wholeness, I too can become whole again.
Together:
Please listen to my call
Help me find the words
Help me find the strength within
Help me shape my mouth, my voice, my heart
So that I can direct my spirit and find You in prayer
In words only my heart can speak
In songs only my soul can sing
Lifting my eyes and heart to You.
5
‫ה' שפתי תפתח ופי יגיד תהילתך‬
HaShem S’fatai Tiftach
Ufi yagid tehilatecha
Open my lips, precious G-d
So my voice can declare Your praise
The Bridge
There are times in life
when we are called to be bridges
Not a great monument spanning a distance,
Carrying loads of heavy traffic
But a simple bridge to help one person
From here to there over some difficulty
Such as pain, grief, fear, loneliness
A bridge which opens the way
for ongoing journey
When I become a bridge for another
I bring upon myself a blessing
For I escape from the small prison of self
And exist for a wider world
Breaking out to be a larger being
Who can enter another’s pain
And rejoice in another’s triumph.
I know of only one greater blessing
In this life and that is
To allow some else
To be a bridge for me
6
Al Kol Eileh
by Naomi Shemer Eng. by Seymour Rockoff
qwtmhw rmh le Uqweh lew vbdh le
bwjh yla rwms tqwnyth wnytb le
Myqzx Mymh le trewbmh sah le
Myqxrmh Nm htybh bsh syah le
Al ha dvash v'al ha oketz, al hamar v'ha matok
Al biteinu ha tinoket shmor Eli ha tov
Al ha eish ham'voeret al ha mayim ha zakim
Al ha ish hashav ha baita min ha merchakim
bwjh yla an rwms hla lk le
qwtmhw rmh le Uqweh lew sbdh le
hwqth ta xqyt le ewjn rwqet hn la
hbwjh Urah la hbwsaw ynybysh
Chorus:
Al kol eileh, al kol eileh shmor na li Eli hatov
Al ha dvash v'al ha oketz al hamar v'hamatok
Al na ta-akor natua al tishkach et hatikvah
Hashiveini v'ashuva el ha aretz ha tova
Through the good times, through the bad times,
O my G-d it’s you I need; thru the sting and thru the honey,
Thru the bitter and the sweet,
Don’t ignore my bitter groaning, don’t refuse my hope, my prayer;
Guide my path home I’ll return soon to the land so good and fair.
Sing chorus
Oh my G-d, protect this dwelling and our garden evermore
From the scream of sudden shelling from the sounds of war
May our home be safe from terror, may our children know no pain
Guard the earth from nature’s error, give it sun and rain
Sing chorus
7
All Life is One
Rabbi:
There is defeat to overcome
And acceptance of living to be established
And always there must be hope
Together:
Not the hope of healing
But the hope that informs
The coming movement
And gives it reason
Rabbi:
The hope which is each person’s breath
The certainty of love and of loving
Death may live in the living
And healing rise in the dying
Together:
From whom the natural end
Is part of the gathering
And the harvest to be expected
Rabbi:
To know healing is to know that…
Together:
All life is one
8
The Door is Open
Either you will
Go through this door
Or you will not go through
If you go through
There is always the risk
Of remembering your name
Things look at you double
And you must look back
And let them happen
If you do not go through
It is possible
To live worthily
To maintain your attitudes
To hold your position
To die bravely
But much will blind you
Much will evade you
At what cost? Who knows?
The door itself
Makes no promises
It is only a door.
9
Elohai N’Shamah
ayh hrwhj yb ttns hmsn yhwla yhwla
yb txpn hta htruy hta htarb hta
ybrqb hrmsm hrmsm htaw
Elohai, Elohai neshama, sh’natata bi tahora hi x2
Ata b’rata, ata yitzarta, ata n’fachta bi
V’ata mi shamra, mi shamra b’kirbi
Oh G-d my soul, You do purify
You created my life, You formed and molded me
And You preserve me, one day You’ll take me
I pray You’ll give to me…my life eternal
Forever I’ll thank Thee
I acknowledge You, G-d of our fathers
Master of creation; Sovereign of all souls
Ata b’rata, ata yitzarta, ata n’fachta bi
V’ata mi shamra, mi shamra b’kirbi
Elohai, Elohai neshama, sh’ natata bi tahora hi
Community Prayer
Together:
We proclaim that You are the Lord our G-d and
G-d of our ancestors throughout all time. You are the Rock of
our lives, the shield of our salvation in every generation. We
thank You and praise You morning, noon and night for Your
wondrous kindnesses. Our lives are in Your Hands; our souls
are in Your charge. You are good with everlasting mercy; You
are compassionate with enduring loving kindness. We have
always placed our hope in You.
10
A Prayer for Healing
In my illness, Lord, I turn to You, for I am Your creation
Your strength and courage are in my spirit
And your powers of healing are within my body
May it be Your will to restore me to health.
In my illness I have learned what is great
And what is small
I know how dependent I am upon You
My own pain and anxiety have been my teachers
May I never forget this precious knowledge
When I am well again
Heal me Lord and I shall be healed
Save me and I shall be saved
Comfort me Lord and shelter me in Your love
Blessed are You, Lord the faithful and merciful Healer
Amen
Rabbi Jim Michaels
11
A Caregiver’s Prayer
Sustainer of the Universe,
Help me to care with hope, courage and sensitivity.
Redeemer,
Grant me insight, resourcefulness
and the ability to ask for and accept help
so that the flame of my faith may never burn low.
Healing One,
may I find the patience and resolve
to overcome difficult moments
and to find meaning and purpose
in the smallest task.
Compassionate One,
help me remember to take care of myself
so that I may have the strength to help others.
Merciful One,
when I tire physically or mentally,
bless me with renewed vigor
so that I may provide comfort and care with love.
Amen
12
You Are The One (Reb Nachman’s Prayer)
You are the One, for this I pray,
That I may have the strength to be alone.
To see the world, to stand among the trees,
And all the living things.
That I may stand alone and offer prayers and talk to You.
You are the One to whom I do belong,
And I’ll sing my soul; I’ll sing my soul to You
And give You all that’s in my heart.
May all the foliage of the field,
All grasses, trees and plants,
Awaken at my coming, this I pray,
And send their life into my words of prayer,
So that my speech, my thoughts,
and my prayers will be made whole,
And through the spirit of all growing things.
And we know that everything is one.
Because we know that everything is You.
You are the One, for this I pray,
I ask you, G-d, to hear my words
That pour out from my heart; I stand before You;
I, like water, lift my hands to you in prayer.
And grant me strength
And grant me strength to stand alone.
You are the One to whom I do belong.
And I’ll sing my soul; I’ll sing my soul to You
And give You all that’s in my heart.
You are the One, for this I pray,
And I’ll sing my soul to You.
13
Don’t Hide Your Face Al Tasteir (Psalm 27:9)
Don’t hide Your face from me
I’m asking for Your Help.
I call to You – Please hear my prayers, O G-d
If You would answer me as I have called to You
Please hear me now
Don’t hide Your face from me.
Mi Shebeirach
wnytwmal hkrbh rwqm wnytba Krbs ym
Mi shebeirach avoteinu
May the One who blessed our fathers
M’kor habracha l’imoteinu
and who blessed our mothers
May the Source of strength
Who blessed the ones before us
Help us find the courage
To make our lives a blessing
And let us say— Amen
Mi shebeirach imoteinu
May the One who blessed our mothers
M’kor habracha l’avoteinu
and who blessed our fathers
Bless those in need of healing
With “r’fua sh’leima”
“complete healing”
The renewal of body
The renewal of spirit
And let us say — Amen
El Na R’fa Na La
(When Miriam was sick, her brother Moses prayed “Please G-d
please heal her”)
hl an apr an la
El’na r’fanala x4
And Moses cried ‘Heal Miriam, Heal Miriam this I pray” x4
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Blessings
Mhyle aybyw hlah Mylwxh ta Krby wntwmaw wnytwba Krbs ym
larsy wme ylwx lk Me dxy Pwgh tawprw spnh tawpr
Mylwx apwr ‘h hta Kwrb
Mi Sheberach avoteinu v’imoteinu y’varech
et ha cholim ha eileh v’yavee aleihem refuat
ha nefesh v’refuat ha guf yachad
im kol cholei amo Yisrael.
Baruch Ata haShem Rofei cholim.
May the One who was a source of blessing for our ancestors
bring blessings of healing upon all those who are ill,
a healing of body and a healing of spirit.
May they be healed along with all those who are in need.
Blessed are You, Source of Healing.
hta Nmxrw Nman apwr Klm la yk
Ki El melech rofei ne’eman v’rachaman Atah
For You are the faithful and merciful G-d of healing
larsy wme ylwx apwr ‘h hta Kwrb
Baruch Ata haShem Rofei cholei amo Yisrael
Blessed are You, Healer of Your people, Israel
15
Rabbi:
We pray for those who are now ill.
Together:
Source of Life, we pray; heal them
Rabbi:
We pray for those who are affected by illness, anguish and
pain.
Together:
Heal them
Rabbi:
Grant courage to those whose bodies, holy proof of Your
creative goodness are violated by illness and the pain of
illness.
Together:
Encourage them
Rabbi:
Grant strength and compassion to families and friends who
give their loving care and support and help them to
overcome despair.
Together:
Strengthen them
Rabbi:
Grant wisdom to those who probe the deepest complexities
of our world as they labor in the search for treatment and
cures.
Together:
Inspire them
Rabbi:
Grant clarity of vision and strength of purpose to those
leaders of our institutions and our government. May they be
moved to act in justice and compassion and find the courage
to overcome fear and hatred.
Together:
Guide them
Rabbi:
Grant insight to us that we may understand that whenever
death comes, we must accept it — but that before it comes,
we must resist it by prolonging life and by making our life
worthy as long as it is lived.
Together:
Bless and heal us all
Rabbi J.E. Sacks
16
Halicha L’Keisaria (Eli, Eli)
Eli, Eli shelo yigamer l’olam
Ha hol v’ha yam
Rishrush shel ha mayim
B’rak hashamayim
T’fillat ha adam
‫אלי אלי שלֹא יגמר לעולם‬
‫החול והים‬
‫רשרוש של המים‬
‫ברק השמים‬
‫תפילת האדם‬
Oh L-RD, my G-d I pray that these things never end
The sand and the sea, the rush of the waters
The crash of the heavens, the prayer of man
Rabbi:
As we have prayed for ourselves and our loved ones,
we now pray for peace and wholeness for the entire world.
May G-d help us make wholeness here on earth
Sim Shalom
‫שים שלום שים שלום טובה וברכה חיים‬
‫שים שלום שים שלום חן וחסד ורחמים‬
‫טוב יהיה בעניך לברכנו ולברך את כל עמך ישראל‬
‫בכל את ובכל שעה בשלומך ובכל שעה בשלומך‬
Chorus:Sim Shalom x2, tovah u’vrachah chayim (goodness, blessings and life)
Sim Shalom x2 chen v’chesed v’rachamim (grace, loving-kindness, mercy)
Tov yi-hiyeh v’einecha l’var-chenu ul’varech
Et kol amcha Yisrael
B’chol et uv’chol sha’ah bish-lomecha,
Uv’chol sha’ah bish-lomecha
Father, may you find it to be pleasing in your eyes
To bless all of your people, Israel
Bless us with peace each moment and in every hour;
May your peace be with us in every hour
17
Oseh Shalom
May He who makes peace in His high place, make peace for us and for all Israel and we all
say “Amen”.
Nma wrmaw larsy lk lew wnyle Mwls hsey awh wymwrmb Mwls hse
Oseh Shalom bim-romav hu ya-aseh shalom aleinu
V’al kol Yisrael v’imru imru Amen
Ya’aseh shalom, ya’aseh shalom, shalom aleinu v’al kol Yisrael
x4
Hatikva
So long within our breast, the heart of the Yehudim beats true. So long as to the East to Zion
looks the Jew. So long our hopes have not been lost. For two thousand years we have
cherished them, to live in freedom in the land of Zion and Yerushalayim.
Kol od baleivav p’neema
Nefesh Yehudi homeeya
Ul’fatay meezrach kadeema
Ayin l’Tzion tsofeeyah
Od lo avda tikfateynu
Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim
Lihiyot am chofshee be-artzeinu
Eretz Tzion Yerushalayim x2
‫כל עוד בלבב פנימה‬
‫נפש יהודי הומיה‬
‫ולפאתי מזרח קדימה‬
‫עין לציון צופיה‬
‫עוד לא אבדה תקותינו‬
‫התקוה בת שנות אלפים‬
‫להיות עם חפשי בארצינו‬
‫ארץ ציון וירושלים‬
Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim x4 (Jerusalem)
‫לשנה הבאה בירושלים הבנויה‬
L’Shana ha-Bah b’Yerushalayim x3
L’Shana ha-Bah b’Yerushalayim ha-B’nuyah
May we be next year in the rebuilt Jerusalem!
We thank you for participating in this Service of Healing
and we pray that G-d will accept our prayers with favor and mercy.
18