Praying for the Ill on Shabbat
Petitioning God on Shabbat is generally restricted, but what does that mean for praying for the sick? We often imagine Shabbat as the day when prayer reaches its peak. Services…
Praying for Miraculous Healing
Many patients and families facing terminal illness and no known cure confront a profound question: Is it appropriate to pray for a “miracle” when medical experts have determined that death…
Why Do We Recite Tehilim?
Prayers during a time of illness are a natural religious instinct. In times of distress, when one’s fate or that of a loved one feels particularly uncertain, we turn to…
Prayers for the Terminally Ill
Watching a terminally ill patient suffer is not easy. Emotionally, we just want them to get better, but we understand that medical options have been exhausted and nature is now…
Prayers at the Time of Death
Prayers of a Sick Person Facing Critical Illness or a Major Procedure Classic Jewish thought views terminal illness as an important time for introspection, prayer, and repentance. One of the…
Funeral Rituals
The Funeral Service The traditional Jewish funeral service is a relatively simple but emotionally powerful tribute to the deceased. The service is directed toward honoring the departed through heartfelt eulogies,…
Mourning Rituals
Jewish mourning practices provide a profound roadmap to help guide the bereavement process. They are comprised of a series of laws and customs that delineate many marks in the mourning…
