A Prayer for School Shootings

 

Barukh Atah Adonai, Eloheinu RuachLit. Spirit. Some new versions of blessings call God "Spirit of the World" (Ruakh Ha’olam), rather than "King of the World" (Melekh Ha'olam). HaOlam —
Source of Life, Creator of all,
How do we hold such grief?
How do we speak when words fail
And silence rings louder than gunfire?

 

Comforter of the brokenhearted,
We cry out for the lives stolen too soon.
We mourn the children, the teachers,
The mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends
Left to pick up shards of shattered dreams.

 

God of Justice,
We cannot accept this as the way of the world.
Strengthen us to demand change.
Awaken hearts hardened by indifference.
Grant us courage to stand up
And to act — so that no more children
Will leave their classrooms in fear,
And no more parents will bury their young.

 

Eternal One,
Bring peace to the souls lost,
Healing to the wounded,
And solace to the grieving.
May their memories not be in vain.

 

We pray for a day

When schools are sanctuaries of learning,

Where laughter is louder than fear,
And weapons of war are no longer tools of death.

 

Oseh Shalom Bimromav,
May the One who makes peace in the heavens
Bring peace to us, to our children,
To our communities,
And to this broken world.