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Prayers for Guidance and Understanding Following Hurricane Katrina
Richard S. Moline and Rabbi Elyse R. Winick
Ba'al HaRahamim - God of Compassion:
Mikolot mayim rabim - Above the voice of vast waters;
Mishberei yam - The breakers of the sea;
Adir bamarom Adonai - Awesome is Adonai our God.
In the path of Katrina's destruction, let the good in humanity rise to the top
of the flood.
Give us strength to console those who have lost family, friends and neighbors.
Give us the courage to provide hope to those who despair.
Provide us with the guidance to heal those who ail, both in body and in spirit.
Hoshi'eini Elohim - Save us, O God;
Ki va'u mayim ad nafesh - for the waters have come into our souls.
Open our hearts so that we may support recovery efforts to the best of our
abilities
Enable us to endure and to be steadfast in the weeks and months ahead, in the
face of a tragedy whose scope is beyond our understanding.
We mourn for those whose lives have been lost. We pray for those whose lives
have been shattered.
Mima'amakim k'ratikha Adonai - From the depths we call to you, O God;
Adonai shim'a b'koli - Hear our cry, heed our plea.
The following prayer for the victims of Hurricane Katrina comes from MAZON:
A Jewish Response to Hunger.
In this time of darkness, let us serve as the light
That brings comfort and strength, hope and redemption.
It is our hands that move stones
And our hearts that move mountains
Sowing the seeds
Of unbroken tomorrows.
If you offer your compassion to the hungry
And satisfy the famished creature
Then shall your light
Shine in darkness
And your gloom
Shall be like noonday
Isaiah 58:10
A Prayer for Victims of Hurricane Katrina
This prayer was written by Rabbi Naomi Levy of Los Angeles:
Are You watching, God?
Have You seen the innocent swept away?
Are You listening God?
Have You heard their cries?
Be with them, God.
Be their strength and their comfort.
Let them know You are near.
Work through us, God.
Teach us to be Your messengers on earth.
Wake us up, God,
Show us how to help.
Use us, God, shine through us,
Inspire us to rebuild the ruins.
Open our hearts so we can comfort the mourning.
Open our arms so we can extend our hands to those in need.
Shake us out of our complacency, God.
Be our guide,
Transform our helplessness into action,
Our generous intentions into charity,
Turn the prayers of our souls into acts of kindness and compassion.
Amen.
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