Invite the family to gather around the bed of the ill person, and to hold them.
If it feels appropriate, begin by humming a niggunA wordless melody., a wordless melody, and then add the words:
וּפְרשׁ עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שְלוֹמֶךָ
Ufros aleynuPrayer proclaiming God’s kingship, said near the conclusion of the prayer service. sukkat shlomekhah
Chaplain, family member, or friend says:
The Jewish tradition provides us with rituals to sanctify the passing of time and to mark life’s transitions.
Just as each year we say a confessional prayer, a viduiLit. Confession. A litany of one's sins that is traditionally recited on Yom Kippur, prior to one’s wedding, and on one's deathbed., on Yom KippurThe holiest day of the Jewish year and the culmination of a season of self-reflection. Jews fast, abstain from other worldly pleasures, and gather in prayers that last throughout the day. Following Ne'ilah, the final prayers, during which Jews envision the Gates of Repentance closing, the shofar is sounded in one long blast to conclude the holy day. It is customary to begin building one's sukkah as soon as the day ends. to mark the transition from year to year, so too we will mark this transition with a vidui.
We pray that this vidui will prove to signify a transition to new life, even as we know that it may mark life’s final transition (Based on the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 338). )
Chaplain, family member, or friend says::
Since (name) is unable to speak, I will recite the vidui prayer on their behalf:
מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לָךְ אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֶאֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁחַיֵּינוּ מְסוּרִים בְּיַדְּךָ. יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ שֶׁתֵּרָפֵא שֶׁתְּרַפֵּא אֶת _____ הָחֹלֶה הָחֹלָה הַמִּסְכֵּן הַזֶּה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה וְאִם הַמָּוֶת כַּלָּה יָבֹא בְּאַהֲבָה בְּשָׁלוֹם וּבַהֲבָנָה
Modim anakhnu lakh Adonai eloheynu v’elohey avoteynu v’imoteynu shekhayenu musrim b’yadkha. Yehi ratzonLit. "May it be Your Will ..." The opening of many petitionary prayers. milfaneykha sheteyrafey/shetrapey et ______ hakholey/ hakholah hamiskeyn hazeh r’fuah sh’leymah v’im hamavet kalah yavoh b’ahavah b’shalom u’vahavanah
Adonai our God and God of our ancestors, we acknowledge that all life is in Your hands. May it be Your will to send complete healing to (name). But, if the end is imminent, may it come with love, with peace, and with understanding.
בְּעוֹדֵנוּ מְבַקֵּשׁ לִבֵּנוּ סְלִיחוֹת, בָּעֵת הַמָּוֶת, יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ שֶׁנִּסְלָחִים אֲנַחְנוּ. אָנָּא כַּפֵּר ל_____ כֹּל חִטֵּאתִיו שְׁחֲטָאֵינו בְּגָלוּי וּבְסֵתֶר. תַּסְתִּירֵהוּ בַּצֵּל כְּנַפְּךָ וְתֵן לוֹ חֵלֶק בַּגָּן עֵדֶן
B’odeynu m’vakesh libeynu s’likhot, ba’et hamavet, yihi ratzon milfanekha shenislakhim anakhnu. Ana kaper l’______ kol khiteytiv sh’khataeynu b’galui u’v’seter. Tastireyhu batzel k’naf’kha v’ten lo khelek bagan eden.
In life, our heart asks for forgiveness, in death let it be your will that we are forgiven. Forgive and release (name) from any hurts or wrongdoings done consciously or unconsciously. Grant him/her shelter in the shadow of Your wings and a portion in Gan Eden.
אֲבִי יְתוֹמִים וְשׁוֹמֵר אַלְמָנוּת הֵגֵן בָּעֵד קְרוֹבָיו אֲשֶׁר נַפְשׁוֹ נַפְשָׁה קְשׁוּרָה בְּנַפְשָׁם. בְּיַדְּךָ יַפְקִיד רוּחוֹ רוְּחָה. פָּדִיתָ אוֹתוֹ אוֹתָה אֲדֹנָי אֵל אֱמֶת
Avi y’tomim v’shomer almanoot hegen ba’ed k’ruvav asher nafsho/ nafshah k’shurah b’nafsham. B’yadkha yafkid rukho/ rukha. Padita oto/ otah Adonai, el emet.
Guardian of the Bereaved protect his/her family, for his/her soul and their’s are intertwined. In Your hand he places his/her spirit. True God, You have redeemed him/her.
Chant together:
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲדֹנָי אֶחָד
ShemaThe most central prayer in Jewish liturgy, the Shema states: "Hear O Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is One." These words are written inside mezuzot and t'fillin. It is traditionally said during all major services and when waking and going to sleep. yisrael Adonay Eloheynu Adonay ekhad.
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֵד
Barukh shem kivod malkhuto le’olam va’ed.
אֲדֹנָי הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים
Adonay hu ha’Elohim
Repeat:
אֲדֹנָי הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים
Adonay hu ha’Elohim
Sing or say quietly to the ill person directly:
מִיְמִינְךָ מִיְמִינֵךְ מִיכָאֵל וּשְׂמְאֹלְךָ וּשְׂמְאֹלֵךְ גַּבְרִיאֵל וּמִלְפָנְךָ וּמִלְפָנֵךְ אוּרִיאֵל וּמְאָחוֹרְךָ וּמְאָחוֹרֵך רְפָאֵל וְעַל רֹאשְׁךָ רֹאשֵׁךְ שְׁכִינַת אֵל. חַזֵּק וְאַמֵּץ אַל תָפְחֵד וְאַל הֶחָרִיד- כִּי עִמְּךָ עִמֵּךְ אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֱלֹהָיִךְ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תִּלְּךָ תִּלֵּךְ
Mi’y’minkhaThe afternoon prayer service./ mi’y’minekh mikhael u’smolkha/ u’smolekh gavriel u’milfanekha/ u’milfanekh uriel u’makhorkha/ u’makhorekh r’fael v’al roskha/ roshekh sh’khinat el. Khazek v’ametz, al tafkhed v’al heykharid- ki imkha/ imekh Adonai elokhekha/ elokhayikh b’khol asher tilkha/tilekh.
At your right is Michael, at your left is Gabriel, before you is Uriel, and behind you is Raphael, and above your head God’s presence dwells. Be strong and find courage; do not fear, and do not dismay – God is with you wherever you may go.
אֲדֹנָי יִשְׁמֹר צֵאתֵךְ וּבֹאֵךָ וּבוֹאֵךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם
Adonay yishmot tzeytkha u’voekha mey’atah ve’ad olam.
May God guard your going out and coming in, from now until eternity.
If it feels appropriate, pick up the opening niggun to close.
