An Individualized Prayer to God
Often one sees our prayers as expressing the sometimes-rote praises to God authored by those who long preceded us and faced a far different world. In the wake of the unprecedented hostage return last week, my friend Yaacov Heidingsfeld composed his own special prayer of gratitude to God. He shared it on Shemini Atzeret at the Beach Minyan in Westhampton Beach. Because his unique words warrant wider circulation, I present them here both in Hebrew and in English as he translated them.
Perhaps his prayer will inspire others to offer God their individualized thanks and praise when the spirit moves them.
A Prayer in the House of Israel’s Special Moment of Gratitude
אבינו שבשמים. הבא ברכה ורפואה לאלה שניצלו; חזק אותם בגופם וברוחם, ועטוף אותם בשלווה ובאהבה. תן שמחה בלב משפחותיהם, ושים כתר תהילה על ראשם—“יפדו ה’ וישובו; ובאו ציון ברינה ושמחת עולם על ראשם.”
אנא, מלך הרחמים, הבא גאולה שלמה ומהירה לכל אחינו שלא שבו, ותחיש את קץ הפדיה והקיבוץ, שתרד עלינו ברוב חסד ורחמים. “ברוך אתה ה’, אלוהינו מלך העולם, מתיר אסורים ומחיה המתים.”
יהי רצון שהנס של יום זה יעורר בנו חמלה, אחדות, ותחושת תודה שלא תסור מלבנו לעולם.
אמן.
Master of all worlds, Father of mercy, today our hearts are filled with deep gratitude as twenty precious souls have returned home after days of harsh captivity. We thank You, Source of life and hope, for hearing our voices, transforming pain into joy, and tears into excitement.
Bring blessing and healing to those who were rescued; strengthen them in body and spirit and envelop them in peace and love. Grant happiness to their families and place a crown of glory upon their heads—“The Lord shall redeem and they shall return; they shall come to Zion in song, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads.”
Please, King of mercy, bring a complete and speedy redemption to all our brothers who have not yet returned, and hasten the time of redemption and gathering that will descend upon us with great grace and compassion. “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who frees the captives and revives the dead.”
May the miracle of this day inspire compassion, unity, and a sense of gratitude in our hearts forever.
Amen