Liturgical Responses to a Pandemic Crafting Comfort for Those We Serve Collected by Rabbi Shira Stern, D.Min, BCC
[email protected] A.Traditional Liturgy Reframed: 1. Hashkiveinu during the Pandemic by Rav Jeffrey Astrachan This evening, we join with the rest of the world in praying for a quick and positive end to the crisis in which we find ourselves. We pray for those who are sick and dying, and for those tending to their care. We pray for their families, and for those who are most anxious about getting sick. We pray for leaders faced with making difficult choices with lasting consequences. We pray for students whose hopes for celebrating their accomplishments have been thwarted. We pray for all those in the work-force who have been – and who will be – directly impacted by the need for social-distancing. Tonight, I offer a prayer that comes to us from our liturgy, which we call “Hashkiveinu.” It is a nighttime prayer that asks God for protection and blessing. It seems fitting to offer these words tonight: Grant, O God, that we lie down in peace, and raise us up, our Guardian, to life renewed. Spread over us the shelter of Your peace. Guide us with Your good counsel; for Your Name’s sake, be our help. Shield and shelter us beneath the shadow of Your wings. Defend us against enemies, illness, war, famine and sorrow. Distance us from wrongdoing. For You, God, watch over us and deliver us. For You, God, are gracious and merciful. Guard our going and coming, to life and to peace evermore.