Life

‘Teach us to turn our panic into patience’: A prayer for hope

Workers disinfect the Western Wall, the most holy site where Jews can pray, on March 31, 2020 against the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 in Jerusalem. Image by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

By Rabbi Naomi Levy April 5, 2020

Originally appeared on nashuva.com

We are frightened, God,
Worried for our loved ones,
Worried for our world.
Helpless and confused,
We turn to You
Seeking comfort, faith and hope.
Teach us God, to turn our panic into patience,
And our fear into acts of kindness and support.
Our strong must watch out for our weak,
Our young must take care of our old.
Help each one of us to do our part to halt the spread of this virus
Send strength and courage to the doctors and nurses
In the frontlines of this battle,
Fortify them with the full force of their healing powers.
Send wisdom and insight to the scientists
Working day and night across the world to discover healing treatments.
Bless their efforts, God.
Fill our leaders with the wisdom and the courage
To choose wisely and act quickly.
Help us, God, to see that we are one world,
One people
Who will rise above this pandemic together.
Send us health God,
Watch over us,
Grace us with Your love,
Bless us with Your healing light.
Hear us God,
Heal us God,
Amen.

Rabbi Naomi Levy is the founder and spiritual leader of Nashuva. She is the author most recently of Einstein and the Rabbi: Searching for the Soul.

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