Service for the Interment of a Miscarriage

white flowers

Psalm 23

(A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

From Psalm 130

Out of the depths I call to You, O God; You hear me fully when I call. God is with me, I have no fear. I was hard-pressed, about to fall; God came to my help. God, You are my strength and my courage. I will not die, but live, and yet tell of the deeds of God. I thank You for having heard me; O God, be my deliverance.

Kriyat Shem

Although this child left this world before they lived with us, they will always live on in our memory. We shall remember this child by the name [name]

Birkat Hagomel

בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלם הַגּוֹמֵל לְחַיָּבִים טוֹבוֹת שֶׁגְּמָלַנִי כָּל טוֹב

Barukh atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha’olam, hagomel le’hayavim tovot, shegemalani kol tov.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, ruler of the universe, showing goodness to us beyond our merits, for bestowing favor upon me.

[response]

מִי שֶׁגְּמָלֵךְ כָּל טוֹב הִיא תִגְמְלֵךְ כָּל טוֹב. סֶלָה. אָמֵן.

Mi shegemalekh kol tov, he yigmalekh kol tov. Selah. Amen.

May the One who has shown you every kindness, ever show kindness to you. Selah. Amen.

Mi Shebeirakh

May God who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah, grant  refu’at hanefesh urefu ‘at haguf, a complete healing of body and spirit to [parents], abundant blessings from loved ones, and an awareness of God’s presence with them in their pain. As for the baby that was not to be, shelter this spirit, O God, in the shadow of Your wings for You are a gracious and loving God. Guard our coming and our going, grant us life and peace, now and always, for You are the Source of life and peace. May we as a holy community support and love our friends in times of pain as well as times of joy. And as we have wept together, so may we soon gather to rejoice.

Amen.

From Psalm 147 & Bereavement Liturgy

אָנָּא אֲדֹנָי הָרוֹפֵא לִשְׁבוּרֵי לֵב וּמְחַבֵּשׁ לְעַצְבוֹתָם שַׁלֵּם נִחוּמִים ל_______. תֵּן בְּלִבָּם יִרְאָתְךָ וְאַהֲבָתְךָ לְעָבְדְּךָ בְּלֵבָב שַׁלֵּם וּתְהִי אַחֲרִיתָם שָׁלוֹם אַמֵּן.

כְּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אִמּוֹ תְּנַחֲמֶנוּ כֵּן אָנֹכִי אֲנַחֶמְכֶם וּבִירוּשָׁלַיִם תְּנֻחֲמוּ. לֹא יָבֹא עוֹד שִׁמְשֵׁךְ וִירֵחֵךְ לֹא יֵאָסֵף כִּי אֲדֹנָי יִהְיֶה לָךְ לְאוֹר עוֹלָם וְשַׁלְּמוּ יְמֵי אֶבְלְךָ אֶבְלֵךְ. בִּלַע הַמָּוֶת לָנֶצַח וּמָחָה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהִים דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים וְחֶרְפַּת עַמּוֹ יָסִיר מֵעַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כִּי אֲדֹנָי דִּבֵּר.

Ana Adonay harofey lishvu’rey lev u’mkhabesh l’atmvotam shalem nikhumim l______. Ten b’libam yirat’kha v’ahavat’kha l’av’d’kha b’leyvav shalem u’t’hi akharitam shalom amen.

K’ish asher imo t’nakhameynu keyn anochi anakheymkhem u’vi’y’rushalayim t’nukhamu. Lo yavo od shimshekh vi’y’reykhekh lo yeyasef ki Adonay yihyeh  lakh l’or olam v’shalmu y’mey eyvlekh. Bila hamaveyt laneytzakh u’makhah Adonay Elohim dimah meyal kol panim v’kheyrpat amo yasir meyal kol ha’aretz ko Adonai dibeyr.

O Lord, who healest the broken hearted and bindest up their wounds, grant their consolation unto ______. Put into their hearts the fear and love of thee, that thy may serve thee with a perfect heart, and let their latter end be peace. Amen.

Like one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you (saith the Lord), and in Jerusalem shall ye be comforted. Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall they moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting life, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. He maketh death to vanish in life eternal; and the Lord God wipeth away tears from off all faces; and the reproach of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken.


Resources used include:

http://www.kveller.com/article/a-synagogue-ritual-for-miscarriage/

http://www.ritualwell.org/ritual/funeral-service-miscarriage-jewish-mourning-story

https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/halakhah/teshuvot/19912000/dickstein_stillbirth.pdf

http://www.ritualwell.org/ritual/prayer-after-miscarriage-or-stillbirth

Rabbi Chai Levy, Rabbi Stephanie Dickstein, Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

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