אל מלא רחמים Eil malei rakhamim Dear God, You who are responsible for and to so many wombs — rekhamim, with, unfathomably, perhaps not quite enough mercy — rakhamim, please remember all the women, men and children of IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel. who were brutally murdered on the seventh of October. It is more than we can hold on our own.
The enormity of this loss is overwhelming, and it grows by the day, claiming more of our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, cousins, friends.
Harofei lishvurei leiv, Healer of the broken-hearted, mend the hearts of the grieving families and the still hopeful families, and tend their lasting wounds. Heal our hearts, too, and the heart of all Israel.
May the souls so callously severed from their bodies find shelter, refuge, in the hidden space beneath Your wings. They need the respite to be cleansed of the heinous passion of their killers. It may take a while, God. Be patient.
Meantime, God, remember who they were and who they could have become, remember who loved them and whom they loved. It is more than we can hold on our own.
Amen.
