Mi Shebeirach List

One of the central Jewish prayers for those who are ill or recovering from illness or injury is the Mi Shebeirach. The prayer takes its name from two words: “mi” and “shebeirach” meaning, “the One" "who blessed.” It asks that the One who blessed our ancestors bring about a complete healing. On Shabbat and Festivals we read the names of our members' relatives and close friends who are seriously ill before singing the prayer.

The version of the prayer we sing most often is by Debbie Friedman, ז׳׳ל:

מי שברך אבותינו מקור הברכה לאימותינו
Mi shebeirach avoteinu, m’kor hab’rachah l’imoteinu
[May the One who blessed our fathers, the source of blessing for our mothers,]
May the Source of strength who blessed the ones before us
Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing
And let us say, Amen.

מי שברך אמותינו מקור הברכה לאבותינו
Mi shebeirach imoteinu, m’kor hab’rachah l’avoteinu
[May the One who blessed our mothers, the source of blessing for our fathers,]
Bless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah [complete healing]
The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit,
And let us say, Amen

Why is our Mi Shebeirach list so long? Recently, some people have asked why the Temple's list of names to be read for the prayer for healing is so long. It takes a few minutes to read the list at every Shabbat morning and evening services. At least part of the answer, of course, is that we are living through a deadly worldwide pandemic and there are many people who are fearful for the lives of their close friends and loved ones. That is why we will never turn down a member's request to include the name of a person who has given his or her permission. However, we do ask that you be thoughtful about adding names to the list. Please only submit the names of relatives or close friends who are seriously ill or injured. Please ask the permission of the person who is sick or injured before placing their name on the list. The community invests its heart into prayer for people who are seriously in need of help and healing.

Fill out the form separately for each person you wish to add or remove from the list. Once added, names will remain on the list for three months unless you ask us to remove it earlier. Please be sure to place the direction "ADD:" or "REMOVE:" before the name.

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Mi Shebeirach List
Most recently updated on July 6, 2022

Rich Bernardi
Michael Bleshman
Margie Brown
Robert Burton
Raymond Byrnes
Brian Callahan
Betty Conlon
Margaret D’Alfonso
Bill Davis
Doris Einhorn
Albert Ferrira
Robert Fischel
George Foley
Gaye Belsky Gluck
Alan Gnessin
Allan Gourse
Dorothy Haven
Angela Henderson
Carlos Hickes
Marvin Jacobson
Yuberka Jimenez
Mary Johnston
Diane Kay
Atara Kirsh
Sarah Labelle
Brenda Lema
Gary Levin
Diana Levinson
Magein Liddell
Ruthann Lombardi
Leslie MacCardell
Adam Navisky
John O’Brien
Alexa Maria Pacheko
Steve Pollack
Carol Ponte
Renee Rivera
Debbie Roberts
Lisa Rose
Laura Roth
Shari Rotman
Ralph Rottenberg
Joshua Schiffman and Family
Ben Sholes
Bernice Sklar
Maryann Smith
Dave Spiro
Eric Thatcher
Steven Trainin
Barbara Watson
Elijah Wolfe

We also pray for Ukraine and the safety and security of all its people. We pray for the refugees; may they find security and wholeness in their homeland or wherever they choose to settle. We pray for an end to the conflict and for an end to the suffering that has devastated a land that is so important in the story of the Jewish people.