A Service of Forgiveness and Healing for Yom Kippur Afternoon

Part I: Introduction & Spiritual Preparation

Niggun

We are on a journey towards shalom — wholeness and peace. Our lives are uncertain and we need strength for the journey ahead. The journey may be laden with physical pain and illness, filled with the air of sadness from loss, or marred by emotional strife and discontent. Any one of these troubles may diminish our spirits causing us to lose faith in God and in the ability to heal.

Let us nourish our spirits to find comfort on the road to peace. The journey begins within our hearts by asking for forgiveness from God andourselves. Let us search within ourselves and our community for the hope we mayhave lost.

On this Day of Atonement we are immersed in self-examination and we pour out our hearts in contrition. Our confessions of the spirit may be painful, and so we ask for healing: healing of mind, healing of body,and healing of spirit.

For complete wholeness we need forgiveness, hope, and healing.

We look to our tradition for words and songs that move us along this journey.

We come before You on this Yom Kippur to ask Your forgiveness.We place our hope in You to guide us towards shalom. We need Your healing presence to begin our journey to wholeness.

Let us prepare to enter God’s loving presence.

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Psalms 121 & 27: I Lift Up My Eyes

Esa einai el heharim, mei’ayin yavoezri? Ezri meiim Adonai, osehshamayim va’aretz. (Psalm 121)

Achat sha’alti mei’et Adonai otahavakeish, shivti b’veit Adonai koly’mei chayai, lachazot b’noam Adonaiul’vakeir b’heichalo. (Psalm 27)

Ÿai o¦i © ¥n mi ¦xd ¤dÎl ¤ i©pi ¥r `V ¤m¦i «©nW d ¥UŸr deŸd§i m ¦r ¥n i ¦x §f ¤r .i ¦x §f ¤r

.u ¤x «¨ eDzF` deŸd§iÎz ¥ ¥n i ¦Y §l «© W z ©g ©i ¥n§iÎlM deŸd§iÎzi ¥a §A i ¦Y §a ¦W W ¥T ©a £x ¥T ©a §lE deŸd§iÎm ©rŸ «p §A zFf£g«©l i©I ©g

.Flki ¥d §AI lift up my eyes to the mountains;

from where will my help come?My help comes from Adonai,maker of heaven and earth.

(Psalm 121)

One thing I ask of Adonai,only that do I seek:

to live in the house of Adonai all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of Adonai,to frequent God’s temple. (Psalm 27)

I Lift My Eyes (An Interpretation of Psalm 121)

I am searching for wordsFor the words that describe,Make sense, or at least comfort.Words that summon me from the depthsOf my solitude.

In the night, there is darkness.Restless attempts to sleep,Twisting, turning into the shadows.As I seek a comfortable poseI bring my knees to my chestFolding my dreams in half;Will the crease ever come out?

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And in the day there are Silent attempts to find hope.Twisting, turning toward the lightAs I look for direction, a path, a way.

It is not easy to find the way.And soI lift my eyes to the mountainsHeaven lays her head upon the mountaintopAs I begin to climb.

What is the source of my help?I climb and gaze upon the vistas.More mountains, more horizonsNever-ending moments where Heaven meets earth,Never-ending possibilities to meet the Divine.Lift me, carry me, offer me courage.Help me understand life’s sharpest paradox:That to live is tragic and wonderful,Painful and awesome, dark and filled with light.

I lift my eyes to the summitAnd as I climb I find my helpIn the turning and twisting it takes to ascend.I have found a path and it is worn and chartedBy all those who are summoned from solitude.I take their lead.And I know that in the most essential wayI am being carried up the mountain.And even now,Dear God, even nowI am not alone.

Rabbi Karyn Kedar

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Lamdeini-Teach Me God To Offer A Blessing

Teach me, O God, a blessing, a prayeron the mystery of a withered leaf,

on ripened fruit so fair,on the freedom to see, to sense,

to breathe, to know, to hope, to despair.

Teach my lips a blessing, a hymn of praise,as each morning and night

You renew Your days,lest my day be as the ones before;

lest routine set my ways.

Lamdei Elohai, bareich v’hitpalellameid et siftotaib’racha v’shir halel.

l ¥N ©R §z ¦d §e K ¥xA ,i ©dŸl ¡ i ¦p ¥c §O ©li ©zFz §t ¦U z ¤ c ¥O ©l.l ¥N ©d xi ¦W §e dkx §A

Text: Leah Goldberg; Music: Benjie Ellen Schiller

Part II: Vidui: Seeking Forgiveness

On this Yom Kippur, we reach for the Infinite; Mindful of our frailty, we seek the Holy.Despite our mortality, we carry within us the connection to the past.Despite loneliness within, we sense that we belong to a single soul – a spirit that fills the entire universe.Let us find in that universal spirit a new source of strength and significance; more compassion, more generosity, more gratitude for life.

Let our hearts be open to self-reckoning and may we grasp how vital to our lives is t’shuvah — the path of return.At this time of forgiveness, we confess our wrongs, and take account of our sins, failures of judgement, weakness of will.The hour is late, the need to be forgiven profound.Let us open our hearts to healing.

Adapted from Mishkan HaLev

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Create a Pure Heart

Create a pure heart in me, AdonaiCreate a pure heart in me.

And renew a true soul within meAnd renew a true soul within.

Based on psalms 51 & 12; Music by Yoel Sykes & Daphna Rosenberg

Acknowledging Our Flaws

O God, we are not so arrogant as to pretendthat the trial of our livesdoes not reveal our flaws.

We know ourselves,in this moment of prayer,to have failedthe ones we love and the stranger,again and again.

We know how oftenwe did not bring to the surface of our livesthe hidden goodness within.

When we have achieved, O God,we are grateful; where we have failed,we ask forgiveness.

Remember how exposed we areto the chances and terrors of life.We were afraid.We sometimes chose to fail.

And we ask:Turn our thoughts from the hurt to its remedy,Free us of the torments of guilt.

Norman Hirsch, Gates of the House

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Al Chet: Missing the Mark...Li«¤pt §l Ep`«hg ¤W ` §h ¥g l ©r

We sin against ourselves...when we take our wellness for granted, and do not praise You with each breath.when we fail to hear the cry from our bodies: protect me, shelter me, embrace me.when we remain silent when those we love hurt themselves.when we shut out the pleas of those who love us.when we are impatient with those who are depressed or whose illness is chronic.when we are impatient with ourselves.when we take that which can nourish and use it to abuse: food, pleasure, love.when we harm our bodies with alcohol, tobacco, and stress.when we ignore our blessings.

V’al kulam, Eloha s’lichot, s’lach lanu,m’chal lanu, kaper lanu.

,Ep«l g ©l §q ,zFgi ¦l §q ©DF «l ¡ ,mN ªM l ©r §e.Ep«lÎx ¤R ©M ,Ep«l l ©g §n

For all these imperfections, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement.

Adapted from Rabbi Joe Black

Forgiveness

My God and witness,My creator who knows all hearts,Look down from the highest mountainand forgiveand give in loveThe chesed that comes with repair and healingTo the fissures within my soulAnd set my foolish ways aright.Forgive the flaws that persist in my bodyAnd in my soul that —Though I did not intend them to be —Are part of me and my humanity.Spare me and repair the broken tabletsThat, broken, keep me from enlightened faith.And grant great strength to meTo stand before You,O God!

Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit Halachmi

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Silent Prayer

Forgiveness is not forgetting. We forgive, not because we believe that what wasdone was unimportant, but because we are prepared to put aside our anger longenough to hear words which reflect remorse and regret, long enough to begin tobelieve that people have the potential to grow.

Charles Klein

Rabbi Elazar ben Judah taught that “the most beautiful thing a person can do is toforgive.” Bearing grudges only prolongs hostility. Forgiveness and understandingare the only genuine ways to reconciliation, cooperation, and peace. Perpetuatingprejudices through slogans and names only increases human suffering. Perhapsthat is why the Torah warns us: “You shall not hate an Edomite, for he is yourbrother. You shall not hate an Egyptian for you were a stranger in his land.”(Deuteronomy 23:8)

Harvey Fields

Forgive me for all that I have not been. Help me to appreciate all that I have, andrealize all that I have to offer. Help me to find my way back to You, so that I maynever be alone.

Rabbi Naomi Levy

Turning of the World

Let us sing this song for the turning of the world.That we may turn as one.With every voice, with every song,We will move this world alongAnd our lives will feel the echo of our turning.

With every voice.With every song.Oh we will move this world along.With every voice, with every song,We will move this world alongAnd our lives will feel the echo of our turning.

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Let us sing this song for the healing of the world.That we may heal as one.With every voice, with every song,We will move this world alongAnd our lives will feel the echo of our healing.

With every voice.With every song.Oh we will move this world along.With every voice, with every song,We will move this world alongAnd our lives will feel the echo of our healing.And our lives will feel the echo of our turning.

Part III: Haftarah - Jonah: A Story of Healing and Forgiveness

Our final text for the Yamim Nora'im confirms that change, repentance andforgiveness are all possible. More than that, they are what God desires. God sendsJonah to Nineveh because God believes that people can transform themselves,atone and improve. While Jonah has his doubts, God's commitment to forgivenessis clear. In the presence of forgiveness, healing becomes possible. We, like Jonahand the people of Nineveh, are called one last time to this holy work.

Blessing Before Haftarah

d¬vx èe ,mi ½¦aFh mi´¦ i ¦a §p ¦A Æx ©gA x³¤W £ ,m ½lFrd K ¤l´¤n ÆEpiÆ«¥dŸl ¡ Æi §i d³Y © KExA,F ½C §a ©r d´¤Wn §aE ÆdxFY ©A x³¥gFA ©d ,Ài §i d ¹Y © KExA ,z®¤n ¡ ¤A mi ´¦xn ¡ ¤p ©d m­¤di ¥x §a ¦c èa

:w ¤c«¤ve z­¤n ¡ d i¬¥ i ¦a §p ¦aE ,F ½O ©r l´¥ x §U¦i §aE

We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has chosen faithfulprophets to speak words of truth. We praise You, Adonai, for the revelation of Torah, forMoses Your servant and Israel Your people, and for the prophets of truth and righteousness.

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From the Book of Jonah

The word of Adonai came to Jonah, son of Amitai, saying: “Get up and go to thegreat city of Nineveh to call their attention to the great wickendness that I see.”Jonah, however, ran away from God’s service. He went down to Jaffa where hefound a ship sailing to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went aboard.

But Adonai cast a mighty wind upon the sea. Such a storm arose that the ship wasin danger of breaking up and sinking. The sailors were so terrified they called totheir gods for protection and then flung the cargo overboard to make the shiplighter. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down to the hold of the ship where he laydown and fell asleep. The captain approached him and cried out. “How can you besleeping so soundly? Get up and call upon your god. Perhaps this god will be kindto us and we will not perish.”

Next the sailors cast lots to discover who was responsible for their misfortune. Thelot fell on Jonah. Jonah replied that he was a Hebrew who worshipped Adonai, theGod of Heaven, who made both sea and land. When the sailors heard this, theywere very frightened and cried out, “What have you done?” After Jonah told themhe was fleeing from the service of Adonai, they asked him what they must do tomake the sea calm again. Jonah told them to throw him overboard, for surely hewas responsible for the terrible storm.

The sailors on board hesitated, for they did not wish to take the life of an innocentman. But as the sea grew even stormier and the sailors could not row to shore, theyfinally decided to hurl Jonah overboard. Calling out to Adonai for forgiveness,they threw Jonah into the waters. The sea stopped raging and grew calm.

Now Adonai provided a gigantic fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah stayed insidethe fish’s belly for three days and three nights. Jonah prayed to Adonai to save himand Adonai commanded the fish to throw Jonah up onto dry land.

Adonai then spoke to Jonah a second time and ordered him to go at once toNineveh. Jonah did as he was told and journeyed for three days until he came tothe city.

When he arrived, Jonah prophesied, “In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed!”The people believed in God and proclaimed a fast. Great and small alike put onsackcloth. When the news reached the king, even he took off his royal robe, anddressed in sackcloth and sat in ashes. He decreed that people turn from their evil

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ways in the hope that God would change the plan to destroy them. And God sawhow they were turning back from their evil ways and so decided against thepunishment that was originally planned.

This greatly displeased Jonah. He prayed to God, saying: “Adonai isn’t this exactlywhat I said would happen? This is why I tried to escape to Tarshish for I knowthat You are a kind and merciful God. Now I wish You’d take my life.”

Jonah left Nineveh and stopped at a place east of the city. There he built a booth tosit in while he waited to see what would happen. As he waited, Adonai provided aricinus plant which grew over Jonah to provide shade for his head and make himmore comfortable. Jonah was very pleased about this.

But the next day, at dawn, God provided a worm to attack the plant so that itwithered. And when the sun rose and beat upon Jonah’s head, he felt faint andbegged God for death.

God said to Jonah, “You cared so much about a plant that you didn’t even grow. Itappeared overnight and perished overnight. If so, shouldn’t I care about the greatcity of Nineveh which has more than a hundred and twenty thousand innocentpeople, and animals as well!”

Abbreviated verson from Tiku Shofar by Shoshana Silberman

Blessing After Haftarah

lk §A wi ¦C©v ,mi ¦nlFrd lM xEv ,mlFrd K ¤l«¤n Epi«¥dŸl ¡ i §i dY © KExAz ¤n ¤ eixa §C lM ¤W ,m¥I ©w §nE x ¥A ©c §n ©d ,d ¤UŸr §e x ¥nF`d on ¡ ¤P ©d l ¥ d ,zFxFC ©d

.w ¤c«¤ve

mFi l ©r §e (,d¤G ©d zA ©X ©d mFi l ©r §e) ,mi ¦ i ¦a §P ©d l ©r §e ,dcFa £rd l ©r §e ,dxFY ©d l ©rdli ¦g §n ¦l (,dgEp §n ¦l §e dX ªc §w ¦l) ,Epi ¥dŸl ¡ i §i Ep«l Y «©zp ¤W ,d¤G ©d mi ¦xER ¦M ©dmi ¦cFn Ep §g«©p £ ,Epi«¥dŸl ¡ i §i lŸM ©d l ©r .z ¤x «¨© §t ¦z §lE cFak §l dxR ©k §lE dgi ¦l §q ¦l §eL §xa §cE c ¤re mlFr §l ci ¦nY i ©g lM i ¦t §A L §n ¦W K ©xA §z¦i ,KzF` mi ¦k §xa §nE ,Kl

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zFpF £r ©l §e Epi «¥zFpF £r ©l ©g«¥lFq §e l ¥gFn K ¤l ¤n ,i §i dY © KExA .c ©rl mI ©w §e z ¤n ¡l ©r K ¤l«¤n ,dpW §e dpWÎlk §A Epi «¥zFn §W © xi ¦a £r ©nE ,l ¥ x §U¦i zi ¥A FO ©r

.mi ¦xER ¦M ©d mFi §e l ¥ x §U¦i ( §e zA ©X ©d) W ¥C ©w §n ,u ¤x «¨ dÎlM

We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Rock of all creation, righteousin all generations, the faithful God whose word is deed, whose every command is just andtrue. For the Torah, for the privilege of worship, for the prophets, and for this (Shabbat andthis) Day of Atonement that You, O God, have given us (for holiness and rest,) for pardon,forgiveness, and atonement, for honor and glory, we thank and bless You. May Your namebe blessed for ever by every living being, for Your word is true for ever. Blessed is ourSovereign God, whose forgiving love annuls our trespasses year after year. Sovereign of allthe world, You hallow (the Sabbath,) the House of Israel and the Day of Atonement.

Part IV: R’faeinu: Heal Us

Healing

Give ear, O Eternal, to my prayer,heed my plea for mercy.In my time of trouble I call You,for You will answer me. When pain and fatigue are my companions,Let there be room in my heart for strength.

When days and nights are filled with darkness,Let the light of courage find its place. Help me to endure the suffering and dissolve the fear,Renew within me the calm spirit of trust and peace.

Author unknown

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Oh Guide My Steps

Oh guide my steps and help me find my way,I need Your shelter now,

Rock me in Your arms and guide my steps.And help me make this day a song of praise to You.

Uf’ros aleinu sukkat sh’lomecha. .L«¤nFl §W z ©M ªq Epi«¥lr UFx §tESpread over us Your shelter of peace.

Debra Winston & Julie Silver

Individual Meditations on Healing

A Prayer for All Who Need HealingEverlasting God, God of the broken-hearted, God of the strong and the weak, Godof the angry and the grieving: I stand before You today in pain, in doubt, in fear.Many blessings have been taken from me; I hesitate even to call out to You and yetI must, with every breath, try to speak Your praise, try to be mindful of beingalive. Please help all those suffering to find strength to continue their fight to bealive. O God, thank You for the gift of this breath. Hallelujah.

Thank You GodDear God: Thank You for creating many possibilities, so that one day I may feelsick, the next day I may feel well. Thank You for creating my body as a house formy spirit, and thank You for sustaining my spirit. Thank you for guiding me inthe mazes of life, both the ups and downs. Whatever the purpose of my life is, Ileave it in Your hands.

May I Tolerate the PainI thank You God for giving me life today. Please help me to tolerate my pain andthat part of my body which is no longer healthy; to love the sick parts and toaffirm that which gives me health. By so doing, let me continue to see my owngoodness — that which makes me lovable — and to give myself strength andcourage to allow my love to touch those in my life whom I love so dearly.

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I awake in pain, misery, and utter confusion; but still I awake. My life is sacred.My life has purpose and my soul houses Your holy spirit. I pray for healing and toheal others. I gratefully acknowledge today with its infinite possibilities andopportunities. And let me say, Amen.

For HopeThank You God for the light that is breaking through the sky, the sun that shinesupon my face, my mind that is still alert and functioning despite my limitationsand pain. Through the day You will join me on this journey, so that I will never bealone or frightened, for I know You will be there. I am thankful for what I amcapable of enjoying this day.

Steady My Steps On The Road To Health RestoredStrengthen me, Holy One, on my journey through illness;Steady my steps on this difficult path.Bring me through signposts of remedies and therapies,Secure in Your guidance as I face these changes. You are my Strength and my Hope,The Author of my healing.You are my Promise and my Courage,Guiding my helpers as I move toward healing. Guard the encouragement of simple improvements,Every day praising Your loving concern.Make me Your partner, Divine Physician,Restoring me for Your Name’s sake.

A Prayer For Patience and Faith in Time of IllnessHear my voice, Adonai, when I call;Be gracious to me and answer me. (Psalm 27:7)In Your hand is the soul of every living thing,I turn to You, O God, in my distress.Give me patience and faith;Let not despair overwhelm me.Renew my trust in Your mercy

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And bless the efforts of all who are helping me.Be with my dear ones in these difficult days.Give them strength and courageTo face the anxieties which they share with me.Grant me Your healingSo that in vigor of body and mindI may return to my loved onesFor a life which will be marked by good deeds.You have always been my help;Do not cast me off nor forsake me,O God of my salvation. (Psalms 27.9)

A Prayer For Coping with My IllnessO God, you know my feelings, You know that I want to feel better. I want to bebetter. I want to have my health restored. But the hours of testing, the days ofdiagnosis, and the question marks concerning my future seem nearly more than Ican take! Grant me, O God, the strength to face each hour of this and every day. Infact, when it seems that I cannot face even this hour; fill me with sufficientstrength to face the next five minutes.

Prayer Before My OperationAlmighty God, I turn to You before my operation, seeking those blessings whichYou alone can bestow. I am thankful for the wondrous powers of healing whichYou have placed within the human body. I thank You for the marvels of medicineand surgery which bless us with increased life. I am grateful to the doctors andnurses for the skill and care which, I pray, will restore me to health. May I neverforget Your compassion. In the times ahead may I show my gratitude by devotionto You, by love for my dear ones and by my concern for the needs of others. Withthe Psalmist we say: Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, blessGod’s holy name, for the healing of sickness and the forgiving of iniquity. Blessthe Lord, O my soul and forget not all God’s kindness.

Prayer for ChemotherapyHarachman, Merciful One, open the gates of

Your wonderousstorehouse releasing Your sparking dew.

Droplets of life, flow gently, mending the hurt in

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this body of mine,watering the vines of this broken garden.

Droplets of blessing, come gently, fetching a yearof goodness,filling with peace the reservoir of my soul.

Droplets of dew, heal gently, sofening this hardplace of blessing,

giving praise to the work of our Creator.Droplets of dew,

come for a blessing and not a curse,come for life and not for death,come bringing plenty and not emptiness.

Prayer For the Healing of My Child God, give them the awareness of their own specialness.Give them the strength to be what You want them to be. Give them the peace that comes with knowing one’s gifts and using them, and the wisdom to keep reaching for those yet undiscovered.

Blessing For Those Who Surround MeMay the One who blessed and led our forebearers give countenance unto thosewho provide help for me and others ill and troubled among us. May they be filledwith fortitude and courage, endowed with sympathy and compassion, as they givestrength to those at their side. May they fight against despair and continue to findwithin themselves the will to reach out to those in need. And in their love of othersmay they feel the blessing of community and the blessing of renewed faith.

Why Am I Suffering?Eternal Presence of the world, I am not asking You to show me the secret of Yourways, for it would be too much for me. But, I am asking You to show me onething: what is the meaning of the suffering that I am presently enduring, what thissuffering requires of me, and what You are communicating to me through it,Eternal Presence of the world. I want to know not so much why I am suffering butwhether I am doing so for Your sake. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev

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The Long Days of SufferingMy God and God of all generations, in my great need I pour out my heart to You.The long days and weeks of suffering are hard to endure. In my struggle, I reachout for the help that only You can give. Let me feel that You are near, and Yourcare enfolds me. Rouse in me the strength to overcome my weakness, and brightenmy spirit with the assurance of Your love. Make me grateful for the care andconcern that are expended on my behalf. Help me to sustain the hopes of my dearones, as they strive to strengthen and encourage me. May the healing power Youhave placed within me give me strength to recover, so that I might proclaim withall my being: I shall not die, but live to declare the works of God.

Gates of Healing

After Hearing Bad NewsSit beside me, O Eternal:Comfort my soul.

At the clamoring bell of news revealed,You listen with me,Hearing my disbelief,Absorbing my gasp of fright.

Wait beside me, O Eternal:Comfort my soul.

Recall to me my cherished memoriesTo bring me forward through adversity,To stretch from then to now to beyond,Beckoning to a future You will guard.

Walk beside me, O Eternal:Comfort my soul. Help me find the broken pieces,Gathering them to my trembling hand,Raw materials for my future life.Let me find Your hand in this design.

Watch beside me O Eternal:Comfort my soul.

Reform me to a different vessel:

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Altered by dark fires of fortune,Hardened in an unknown kiln,Burning away the superficial.

Wrap me in Your healing light.Wrap me in Your healing care.

Debbie Perlman

In My LonelinessThere are often times, O God, when I feel alone, and yet I know in my heart that Iam never alone. You are always there waiting for me to speak to You of mydesires, hopes and dreams. Yet how seldom do I reach out to You to voice mygratitude for all that is beautiful in my life...all the gifts of my life. Love, family,friendship have come from You. But the greatest gift of all is Your Presence,which time and again has given me strength, faith and courage. Now, in the midstof doubt and confusion, I need to know that You are beside me in the depth of mybeing. With You there, I know that I am never alone — ever. My friend, myStrength, my God.

Gates of Healing

Season of SorrowThis is my season of sorrow.A time when struggles recur and challenges arrive,A time of endings and distress.In this season I’ve knownMoments of pain,Moments of sadness,And moments of confusion.I’ve seenTimes of loss andTimes of grief,Moments that have stripped me of wisdomAnd left me crushed and breathless,Cold and in deepening shadow.

Holy One, Help me recall my seasons of joy,To recall with hope and praiseYour gifts and blessings.Moments of laughter.Moments of kindness.Moments of peace.

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Times of heath. Times of clarity.Moments that lifted my spiritAnd comforted my heart.

In truth, these joys and sorrows are gifts of holiness,Gifts of mystery,Gifts beyond my wisdom,My knowledge,My understanding.

Rock and Redeemer,You are my comfort and my strength,My light and my truth.

Alden Solovy

Healing After DivorceI never thought that I would say this, (and with all due respect to those who havelost) but I would almost prefer to have been widowed.At least then my family would still be a single unit.At least then there would have been no lawyers representing another side.At least then, I would not play that crazy game of blaming myself. Either I failed, or I misjudged.Dear God, I know you have forgiven me for any mistakes I may have made. Nowgive me the strength, God, to return to a life of wholeness, trust and joy.

Recovery From a TraumaCreator,I have been in such dark placesa flashlight was uselessI have felt fearno words could comfort meI seemed lostand yetthrough Your compassion and lovingkindnessI am here, now.Bessed are Youthe Guardian of allwho carries meto a safe place.

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Grant Me CourageAdonai, bless me with courage

Help me gain strength from YouLife has a way of handing us surprises

that take an amazing amount of courage to overcomeCreate in me a clear and steady focus

a heart that is filled with the awareness thatAdonai is with me

on the sunniest day and in the darkest nightI will be whatever life demands of meCourage is my knowledge of You.

Anita Moise Rosenfield Rosenberg

Thank You God For StrengthFor health of body and of spirit, I thank You, God. I was broken and now I amwhole. I was weary, but now I am rested. I was anxious, but now I am reassured. Ithank You for those who helped me in my need, who heartened me in my fear, andwho visited me in my loneliness. For the strength You gave me, O God, I givethanks to You.

Thank You To Those Who Love MeDear God, be with my family and friends. Bring peace to their troubled spirits.Enable them to know that their love gives me strength. Help me to express mygratitude and appreciation to them for all they have done and are continuing to do.Let them feel free to bring me their own joys and sorrows that I may continue toparticipate in their lives just as they share in mine. May this also be a time of innersearching, that I may appreciate more fully the good and beautiful in life and laborto bring these to the lives of others. Grant me health and healing that I may carryout Your will in peace. Then will my life reflect Your presence and Your love.

Light and WarmthAnd God, May the passion of all that is good in life burn within my heart. My heart yearns for light and warmth. May I be guided to feel fully and deeply, Fighting the injustice in the world while Loving peace and harmony.

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May God’s blessingBe with those who are in my heart, as I utter this prayer.May my prayersStrengthen me to be more fully present for those who are suffering. May I becomeA messengerof God’s caring and compassion, A partner with God in the work of healing.

By Your light, O God, May I see light.

Rabbi Karyn Kedar

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, God, 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.

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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.

Debbie Friedman

Mi Shebeirach for Healing

As those who came before us were blessed in the presence of the communities thatsustained them, so we offer our blessings for those among us needing support.

— Recognition of Those in Need of Physical, Emotional or Spiritual Healing —

May your spirit be calmed and your pain be eased. May you receive comfort fromthose who care for you, and may you drink from the waters of the ever-givingwellspring of life.

Marcia Falk

Mi Shebeirach avoteinu, m’kor ha’brachah l’imoteinuMay the Source of strength

Who blessed the ones before usHelp us find the courage

To make our lives a blessing,And let us say: Amen.

Mi Shebeirach imoteinu, m’kor ha’brachah l’avoteinuBless those in need of healing

With r’fuah sh’leimah,The renewal of body,The renewal of spirit,And let us say: Amen.

Debbie Friedman

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Part V: Finding Peace, Reaping Joy

The winding road toward wholeness is not yet complete, but God’s lovingPresence makes the journey more bearable. We extol the Eternal and give thanksfor guarding and sustaining us on this spiritual journey.

Our sages taught that the path from pain to joy takes great toil and faith. It maybring feelings of despair along the way, but hope and faith will light the pathahead. One of the most prolific Jewish songwriters of our time, Debbie Friedman,took the message of the Psalmist to teach us how to turn sorrow into joy throughmusic, and thereby find our capacity to heal. It begins with hope, and hope leads tojoy.

Debbie said that you didn’t have to suffer pain or hurt or despair to find hope andjoy, but that if you have the capacity to experience pain or suffering – the deepestpain you ever know – then surely you have that much capacity for great joy.

Sow In Tears, Reap In Joy

Those who sow, who sow in tearsWill reap in joy, will reap in joy.

Hazorim, b’dimah b’rinah yikzoru. .ExŸv §w¦i dP ¦x §A dr §n ¦c §A mi ¦r §xŸG ©d

Text: Psalm 126:5; Music by Debbie Friedman

Our Resilient Spirit Eventually life tests us all. There isn't a human being alive who has not faced defeat. The question that we must all ask ourselves is not: “How are we to avoid pain?” But rather:"When sorrow comes, how can we muster the resources to recover from pain?"No one would ever wish misfortune upon themselves. But suffering is a great teacher. It teaches us empathy, compassion, and wisdom.

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Most of all, it forces us to learn that we are far stronger than we ever suspected.

Naomi Levy

There is a moment in time where you see a flash of light, or feel a slight wisp of wind or notice a momentary pause as if the world is holding its breath. And then suddenly, at that moment, your life comes into focus. And it is that very moment in time that beckons you to take a turn in the road And step on a path that leads you to the truth of who you are. And in the moment, in the light, in the whisper of wind, in the pauseyou have a choice that can change your life forever. You can choose to live, To really live or to simply get along.Choose to live.

Rabbi Karyn Kedar

Mourning Into Dancing

You turn my mourning into dancing, So that my soul might sing to You,So that my soul sings to You and it not be stilled.

Chorus: Oh God, my God, forever I will thank You.Oh God, my God, forever I will thank You: odeka.

Now I sing praises to the Holy One, Who lifts me up when I have fallen.

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And I cry to You to heal me And You have answered all my prayers. (chorus)

I ask You to be gracious and hear me, Adonai. I call to You to help me and You supported me with joy. (chorus)

You turn my mourning into dancing.Debbie Friedman based on Psalm 30