This ritual was created to mark the beginning of sobriety for a close loved one of mine who has struggled with addiction for over 15 years. This ritual was originally written in Hebrew and translated to English. Psalms are in the original form to honor the traditional language.
הַיּוֹם אֲנַחְנוּ אִשֵׁרִים אֶת הַהַתְחָלָה שֶׁל הֲמַסַּע. הַיּוֹם אַתָּה מַתְחִיל אֶת הַמַּסָּע שֶׁלְּךָ לְמָקוֹם שֶׁל בְּרִיאוּת. הַדֶּרֶךְ לַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה הָיְתָה קָשֶׁה וְהַדֶּרֶךְ מֵהָרֶגַע הַזֶּה תִּהְיֶה קָשֶׁה. בַּמַּסָּע הַזֶּה אַתָּה צָרִיךְ כֹּחַ, סַבְלָנוּת וֶאֱמוּנָה. הַיּוֹם אֲנַחְנוּ רוֹצִים לְאַשֵּׁר בַּדֶּרֶךְ שֶׁלְּךָ וַאֲנַחְנוּ רוֹצִים לָתֵת לְךָ בְּרָכוֹת כְּשֶׁאַתָּה מַמְשִׁיךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ לְהַבְרָאָה
Today we acknowledge the beginning of the journey. Today you begin your journey to a place of health. The path to this place was hard and the path from this moment will be hard. In this journey you need strength, patience, and faith. Today we want to acknowledge your path and we want to give you blessings as you continue on the journey to health.
הַבְרָאָה הִיא כְּמוֹ צְמִיחָה חֲדָשָׁה כְּמוֹ פֶּרַח שֶׁנָּבַל, הוּא צָרִיךְ מַיִם וַאֲוִיר לִגְדוֹל מֵחָדָשׁ כְּמוֹ פֶּרַח שֶׁמַּתְחִיל לִצְמֹחַ שׁוּב, אַתָּה מַתְחִיל לִגְדוֹל מֵחָדָשׁ הַיּוֹם. הַיּוֹם אֲנַחְנוּ מְכַבְּדִים אֶת הַמַּסָּע שֶׁלְּךָ וְנַתְחִיל אִתְּךָ בַּמַּסָּע שֶׁלְּךָ לְהַבְרָאָה
Health is like a budding flower. Like a flower that has withered, it needs water and air to grow anew. Like a flower that begins to burst forth again, you begin to grow anew today. Today we give strength to your journey and we begin with you on your journey to health.
מקוה:
הַיּוֹם אֲנַחְנוּ בָּאִים לַמִּקְוָה. הֲמִקְוָה מְסַמֶּלֶת לֵדָה מֵחָדָשׁ. הֲמִקְוָה הוּא מַיִם וּכְמוֹ מַיִם שֶׁגּוֹרְמִים לִפְרֹחַ לִצְמֹחַ מֵחָדָשׁ הַמַּיִם שֶׁל הֲמִקְוָה הַזֶּה נוֹתְנִים לְךָ כֹּחַ וְגוֹרְמִים לְךָ לִצְמֹחַ מֵחָדָשׁ
MikvehThe ritual bath. The waters of the mikveh symbolically purify – they are seen as waters of rebirth. A convert immerses in the mikveh as part of conversion. Many Orthodox married women go to the mikveh following their period and before resuming sexual relations. Couples go to the mikveh before being married. Many, including some men, immerse before Yom Kippur; some go every Friday before Shabbat.:
Today we come to the mikveh. The mikveh symbolizes rebirth. The mikveh is water, and like water that causes the flower to grow anew, the water of this mikveh gives you strength and causes you to grow anew.
הַמַּסָּע שֶׁל הִתְאוֹשְׁשׁוּת מַתְחִיל בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁל יֵאוּשׁ. בַּתְּהִלִּים 6 אֲנַחְנוּ קוֹרְאִים עַל יֵאוּשׁ. קְרָא אֶת הַמִּזְמוֹר כְּפִי אֲנַחְנוּ מְכַבְּדִים שֶׁהַמַּסָּע הַזֶּה הִתְחִיל עִם יֵאוּשׁ. אַחֲרֵי שֶׁאַתָּה קוֹרֵא אֶת הַמִּזְמוֹר צְלֹל בַּמַּיִם
The journey of recovery begins in a place of desperation. In Psalms 6 we read about desperation. Read the psalm as we give strength to this journey which begins with desperation. After you read the psalm submerse in the water:
תהילים 6:
לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינוֹת, עַל–הַשְּׁמִינִית; מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד
יְהוָה, אַל–בְּאַפְּךָ תוֹכִיחֵנִי; וְאַל–בַּחֲמָתְךָ תְיַסְּרֵנִי
חָנֵּנִי יְהוָה, כִּי אֻמְלַל–אָנִי: רְפָאֵנִי יְהוָה—כִּי נִבְהֲלוּ עֲצָמָי
וְנַפְשִׁי, נִבְהֲלָה מְאֹד; ואת (וְאַתָּה) יְהוָה, עַד–מָתָי
שׁוּבָה יְהוָה, חַלְּצָה נַפְשִׁי; הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי, לְמַעַן חַסְדֶּךָ
כִּי אֵין בַּמָּוֶת זִכְרֶךָ; בִּשְׁאוֹל, מִי יוֹדֶה–לָּךְ
יָגַעְתִּי, בְּאַנְחָתִי—אַשְׂחֶה בְכָל–לַיְלָה, מִטָּתִי; בְּדִמְעָתִי, עַרְשִׂי אַמְסֶה
עָשְׁשָׁה מִכַּעַס עֵינִי; עָתְקָה, בְּכָל–צוֹרְרָי
סוּרוּ מִמֶּנִּי, כָּל–פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן: כִּי–שָׁמַע יְהוָה, קוֹל בִּכְיִי
שָׁמַע יְהוָה, תְּחִנָּתִי; יְהוָה, תְּפִלָּתִי יִקָּח
יֵבֹשׁוּ, וְיִבָּהֲלוּ מְאֹד—כָּל–אֹיְבָי; יָשֻׁבוּ, יֵבֹשׁוּ רָגַע
For the Leader; with string-music; on the Sheminith. A Psalm of David.
LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, neither chasten me with your wrath.
Be gracious to me, LORD, for I languish away; heal me, LORD, for my bones are affrighted.
My soul also is sore affrighted; and you, LORD, how long?
Return, LORD, deliver my soul; save me for your mercy’s sake.
For in death there is no remembrance of you; in the nether-world who will give you thanks?
I am weary with my groaning; every night make I my bed to swim; I melt away my couch with my tears.
My eye is dimmed because of vexation; it waxeth old because of all mine adversaries.
Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD receives my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and sore affrighted; they shall turn back, they shall be ashamed suddenly.
הֲצָעַד הַבָּא שֶׁל הַמַּסָּע לְהִתְאוֹשְׁשׁוּת הוּא סְלִיחָה. בֵּן אָדָם צָרִיךְ לִסְלֹחַ לְעַצְמוֹ עַל הַבְּחִירוֹת הָרְעוּת מֵהָעֵבֶר. כְּמוֹ שֶׁהַפֶּרַח סוֹלֵחַ לְהָשֵׁם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא לֹא נוֹתֵן לוֹ גֶּשֶׁם, אַתָּה צָרִיךְ לִסְלֹחַ לְעַצְמְךָ כִּי אַתָּה הִיכְחִשְׁתָ לְעַצְמְךָ חַיִּים בְּרִיאִים. אֲנַחְנוּ מְאַשְּׁרִים שֶׁצָּרִיךְ כֹּחַ בִּשְׁבִיל סְלִיחָה עִם קְרִיאָה שֶׁל תְּהִלִּים 51
The next step of the journey to recovery is apology. A person needs to forgive him/herself for the poor decisions that he/she made in the past. Just as the flower forgives G-d because G-d did not give it water, you need to seek forgiveness for yourself for you denied yourself a healthy life. We acknowledge the strength needed for seeking forgiveness as you read Psalm 51.
כְּאַשֵּׁר אַתָּה צוֹלֵל בַּמַּיִם תַּגִּיד לֵב טָהוֹר, בָּרָא לִי אֱלֹהִים, וְרוּחַ נְכַוֵּן חָדָשׁ כְּשֶׁאֲנִי קוֹרֵא מֵהַמִּזְמוֹר
When you submerge in the water say: pure heart, you created for me G-d, make new and straighten my spirit with the reading of this psalm.
תהילים 51
הרבה (הֶרֶב), כַּבְּסֵנִי מֵעֲוֹנִי; וּמֵחַטָּאתִי טַהֲרֵנִי
כִּי–פְשָׁעַי, אֲנִי אֵדָע; וְחַטָּאתִי נֶגְדִּי תָמִיד
לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ, חָטָאתִי, וְהָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ, עָשִׂיתִי:
לְמַעַן, תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ— תִּזְכֶּה בְשָׁפְטֶךָ
הֵן–בְּעָווֹן חוֹלָלְתִּי; וּבְחֵטְא, יֶחֱמַתְנִי אִמִּי
הֵן–אֱמֶת, חָפַצְתָּ בַטֻּחוֹת; וּבְסָתֻם, חָכְמָה תוֹדִיעֵנִי
תְּחַטְּאֵנִי בְאֵזוֹב וְאֶטְהָר; תְּכַבְּסֵנִי, וּמִשֶּׁלֶג אַלְבִּין
תַּשְׁמִיעֵנִי, שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה; תָּגֵלְנָה, עֲצָמוֹת דִּכִּיתָ
הַסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ, מֵחֲטָאָי; וְכָל–עֲוֹנֹתַי מְחֵה
לֵב טָהוֹר, בְּרָא–לִי אֱלֹהִים; וְרוּחַ נָכוֹן, חַדֵּשׁ בְּקִרְבִּי
אַל–תַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי מִלְּפָנֶיךָ; וְרוּחַ קָדְשְׁךָ, אַל–תִּקַּח מִמֶּנִּי
הָשִׁיבָה לִּי, שְׂשׂוֹן יִשְׁעֶךָ; וְרוּחַ נְדִיבָה תִסְמְכֵנִי
אֲלַמְּדָה פֹשְׁעִים דְּרָכֶיךָ; וְחַטָּאִים, אֵלֶיךָ יָשׁוּבוּ
הַצִּילֵנִי מִדָּמִים, אֱלֹהִים— אֱלֹהֵי תְּשׁוּעָתִי:
תְּרַנֵּן לְשׁוֹנִי, צִדְקָתֶךָ
אֲדֹנָי, שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח; וּפִי, יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶךָ
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight
that you may be justified when you speak, and be in the right when you judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, Thou desire truth in the inward parts; make me, therefore, to know wisdom in my heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have crushed may rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create me a clean heart, O God; and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of your salvation; and let a willing spirit uphold me.
Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall return to you.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O G-d, G-d of my salvation;
so my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
Lord, open my lips; and my mouth shall declare your praise.
עַכְשָׁו אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים שֶׁהִגַּעְנוּ לָרֶגַע הַזֶּה כְּמוֹ פֶּרַח שֶׁהוֹחִיָה עִם מַיִם, הַמַּיִם שֶׁל הֲמִקְוָה נוֹתְנִים לְךָ חַיִּים וָהֶם עוֹזְרִים לְךָ לַחְזֹר לְעַצְמְךָ מֵהִתְמַכְּרוּת. עַכְשָׁו אֲנַחְנוּ שְׂמֵחִים שֶׁהַמַּסָּע הֵבִיא אוֹתְךָ לָרֶגַע הַזֶּה
Now we must give thanks for arriving at this moment. Like the flower that is revived with water, the water of the mikveh gives you life and helps you to return to your true self from addiction. Now we are happy that your journey brings you to this moment!
אַחֲרֵי שֶׁאַתָּה צוֹלֵל בַּמַּיִם שִׁיר אִתִּי הַמִּזְמוֹר 150
After you submerge in the water, let us sing Psalm 150
תהילים 150:
הַלְלוּ–יָהּ:
הַלְלוּ–אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ; הַלְלוּהוּ, בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ
הַלְלוּהוּ בִגְבוּרֹתָיו; הַלְלוּהוּ, כְּרֹב גֻּדְלוֹ
הַלְלוּהוּ, בְּתֵקַע שׁוֹפָר; הַלְלוּהוּ, בְּנֵבֶל וְכִנּוֹר
הַלְלוּהוּ, בְּתֹף וּמָחוֹל; הַלְלוּהוּ, בְּמִנִּים וְעֻגָב
הַלְלוּהוּ בְצִלְצְלֵי–שָׁמַע; הַלְלוּהוּ, בְּצִלְצְלֵי תְרוּעָה
כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה, תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ: הַלְלוּ-יָהּ
Halelu-El b’kodsho,
Haleluhu birki’a uzo
Haleluhu vig’vurotav,
Haleluhu k’rov gudlo.
Haleluhu b’teka shofarA ram's horn that is blown on the High Holidays to "wake us up" and call Jews to repentance. It is also said that its blast will herald the coming of the messiah.,
Haleluhu b’nevel v’hinor
Haleluhu b’tof umahol,
Haleluhu b’minim v’ugav
Haleluhu b’tziltzilei shama,
Haleluhu b’tziltzilei tru’a.
Kol han’shama t’halel YahA name for God, as in "halleluyah" – praise God. Some people prefer this name for God as a non-gendered option. – Haleluya.
Hallelujah
Praise G-d in His sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His abundant greatness.
Praise Him with the blast of the horn; praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and the pipe.
Praise Him with the loud-sounding cymbals; praise Him with the clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Hallelujah.
אֲנִי רוֹצָה לְסַיֵּם אֶת הַטֶּקֶס הַזֶּה עִם בְּרָכוֹת בִּשְׁבִיל הֶעָתִיד
I want to conclude this ceremony with blessings for your future.
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֶת ___ שֶׁחוֹזֵר לְעַצְמוֹ מֵהִתְמַכְּרוּת
May the one who blessed _______ who returns to him/herself from addiction:
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק יַעֲקֹב וְכָל אָדָם שֶׁקִּבֵּל חֹזֶק מיי וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל לֵאָה וְכָל אִשָּׁה שֶׁקִּבְּלָה אֶת חֲזָקָה מיי. יְבָרֵךְ אֶת (שֵׁם שֶׁל אָדָם, יָכוֹל לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בַּשֵּׁם יְהוּדִי) _________ בֵּן ________ כְּשֶׁהוּא מַתְחִיל בַּדֶּרֶךְ חֲדָשָׁה הַיּוֹם. בְּיַחַד, אֲנַחְנוּ מְאַשְּׁרִים אֶת הַכֹּחַ שֶׁל הָרֶגַע הַזֶּה. אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים לְךָ אֲדֹנָי עֲבֹר הָרֶגַע הַזֶּה וַאֲנַחְנוּ מְבִינִים שֶׁעִם הָעֲזָרָה שֶׁלְּךָ ____ הִגִּיעַ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה
יִתֵּן לוֹ אֲדֹנָי הַכֹּחַ לְהַגִּיעַ לְהַחְלָטוֹת טוֹבוֹת שֶׁהוּא יָדַע לְבַקֵּשׁ עֲזָרָה עֶזְרָה כְּאַשֵּׁר הוּא יִצְטָרֵךְ זֹאת. אֲדֹנָי יַמְשִׁיךְ לַעֲזֹר לוֹ לְהַכִּיר שֶׁהַבְרָאָה תָּבוֹא יוֹם לְיוֹם. אֲדֹנָי עוֹזֵר לוֹ לְתַקֵּן אֶת הַקְּשָׁרִים שֶׁלּוֹ עִם הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה וְהַחֲבֵרִים שֶׁלּוֹ כְּפִי שֶׁהוּא עָזַר לוֹ עַד עַכְשָׁו. יְהִי רְצוֹנֵךְ שֶׁהוּא יִמְצָא בְּרִיאוּת שָׁלוֹם וְאֹמֶץ לֵב לָחְזוֹר לְעַצְמוֹ מֵהִתְמַכְּרוּת הַיּוֹם וּבַיָּמִים שֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ.
May the one who blessed our fathers, AbrahamAbraham is the first patriarch and the father of the Jewish people. He is the husband of Sarah and the father of Isaac and Ishmael. God's covenant - that we will be a great people and inherit the land of Israel - begins with Abraham and is marked by his circumcision, the first in Jewish history. His Hebrew name is Avraham., IsaacAbraham and Sarah's much-longed-for son and the second Jewish patriarch. Isaac is nearly sacrificed by his father at God's command (Genesis 22). He is married to Rebecca and is the father of Esau and Jacob. His Hebrew name is Yitzchak., and JacobLit. heel Jacob is the third patriarch, son of Isaac and Rebecca, and father to the twelve tribes of Israel. More than any of the other patriarchs, Jacob wrestles with God and evolves from a deceitful, deal-making young man to a mature, faithful partner to God. His Hebrew name is Yaakov., and every man that received strength from G-d, and our mothers SarahThe first matriarch, wife of Abraham, and mother of Isaac, whom she birthed at the age of 90. Sarah, in Rabbinic tradition, is considered holy, beautiful, and hospitable. Many prayers, particularly the Amidah (the central silent prayer), refer to God as Magen Avraham – protector of Abraham. Many Jews now add: pokehd or ezrat Sarah – guardian or helper of Sarah., RebeccaThe second Jewish matriarch, Isaac's wife, and mother to Jacob and Esau. Rebecca is an active parent, talking to God when she is pregnant and learning the fate of her children, then ultimately manipulating Isaac and the children to ensure Jacob's ascendancy. Her Hebrew name is Rivka., RachelLavan's younger daughter and Jacob's beloved wife second wife (after he is initially tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah). Rachel grieves throughout her life that she is barren while Leah is so fertile. Ultimately, Rachel gives birth to Joseph and dies in childbirth with Benjamin. Rachel is remembered as compassionate (she is said to still weep for her children), and infertile women often invoke Rachel as a kind of intercessor and visit her tomb on the road to Bethlehem., and LeahThe third of the Jewish matriarchs, Lead is the eldest of Lavan's daughters and one of the wives of Jacob. She is the daughter whom Lavan tricks Jacob into marrying instead of his younger daughter Rachel, whom Jacob has requested to marry. Leah is mother to six of the the twelve tribes and to one daughter, Dinah. and every woman that received her strength from G-d. May you bless _______ (name of person, can use Hebrew name) as he/she begins on their new journey today. Together, we acknowledge the strength of this moment. Give him/her, G-d, the strength to return to good resolutions, that he/she may know when to request help when he/she needs it. G-d continue to help him/her to recognize the strength that comes day by day. G-d help him/her to repair relationships with family and friends who have helped him/her to now. May it be your will that he/she finds health, peace, and courage to return to him/herself from addiction today and in the days to come.
וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן
Let us say: Amen.
הַיּוֹם יוֹם חָדָשׁ! הַיּוֹם יוֹם אֶחָד!
Today is a new day! Today is day one!
