Cyberthought by Rabbi Zelizer -- July 30, 2008

Frequent questions to the Rabbi about Judaism. His answers will be appearing as Cyberthoughts over time.

Question # 4
Q. Please explain the purpose of the "mesheberach prayer."
A. The literal translation asks God to "cure someone in body and in spirit" because the pray-er offers the prayer, and also donates tzedekah.

Various rabbis though have cautioned that the mesheberach prayer should not be regarded as "Yanking God's strings." For example, if a patient's condition worsens, does that mean that God did not respond to the mesheberach prayer? Perhaps, then, the prayer should be regarded as effective when both the pray-er and the person prayed for, knowing that a "Faith Community" is pulling for them in a challenging time of illness.