Prayer for Divine Assistance on Behalf of a Birthing Mother

 

Parashat Tazria

Prayer for Divine Assistance on Behalf of a Birthing Mother
 
Master of the Universe, Mighty Creator of heaven and earth,
Please help this woman crying out in the pain of giving birth!
 
We turn to Your compassion to forgive,
and ensure that she and her baby will live!
 
May her labor serve as atonement for any sin!
so, she becomes cleansed and can a new life begin!
 
Let the sound of her cry ascend to Your Throne of Glory!
May her accusers be powerless to tell their harmful story!
 
None of us can help never Your holy mitzvot to transgress,
Pardon us and this birthing woman because we all confess!
 
Hear the woman’s defense and let her good deeds be gathered before You
She deserves an easy birth, a healthy baby and much nachat too!
 
Spread Your mercy upon her, for You answer in time of distress.
Allow her womb to open speedily and let the birth progress!

Based on the Book of Vayikra Chapter 12 verse 1:

 

ספר ויקרא פרק יב פסוק א

דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר אִשָּׁה כִּי תַזְרִיעַ וְיָלְדָה זָכָר וְטָמְאָה שִׁבְעַת יָמִים כִּימֵי נִדַּת דְּוֹתָהּ תִּטְמָא:

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male, she shall be impure for seven days; as [in] the days of her menstrual flow, she shall be impure” (Vayikra 12:1).

 

Prayer for a Birthing Mother

May it be Your will, O great, mighty and awesome G-d, that the merits of this poor woman who is trembling and crying out in her pains of childbirth, be remembered before You. If she has done anything against Your will, forgive and cleanse it through her suffering in the pain of her labor. May the sound of her cry ascend to Your Throne of Glory and seal the mouth of her accusers; but may those who defend her with good deeds be gathered before You as is Your custom, to bestow goodness on the worthy and non-worthy alike. Spread Your mercy upon her, for You answer in time of distress. O merciful Ruler who is merciful to all, who redeems and saves, hears and answers! 

https://jewishmom.com/pregnancy-inspiration/inspiration-for-pregnancy/inspiration-for-birth/traditional-prayers-techinot-for-birthing/

Prayer for Divine Assistance for Avoiding Eating Bugs

Parashat Shemini

Prayer for Divine Assistance for Avoiding Eating Bugs
 
It is so tedious and grueling to check properly for bugs.
Hashem, help me spot a suspicious dot in any of my jugs!
 
Please grant me enough patience to endure and cope
with the process of soaking and rinsing out the soap!
 
Ensure that every tiny creepy-crawly spider
will through the soapy water become a slider!
 
Strengthen my eyesight so I will be able to inspect
my grains and greens for a trace of any hidden insect!
 
I want to enjoy my organic plants
without any aphids or straying ants!
 
Please let not any insect ever so small
into my salad or green smoothie fall!
 
May nothing unseemly in my food be found
of the crawling creatures that creep on the ground!
 
Let me not take a bite of a torn bug leg,
a fly wing, or even a tiny insect egg!
 
Neither let me cause my family to eat
anything unkosher, salad, soup, or meat!
 
Please help me to keep every family dish
completely kosher whether meat or fish!
 
 May no powdery moth
fall into our chicken broth!
 
Any four-legged worm that creeps on its belly,
stay far away from my homegrown apple jelly!
 
I ask you Hashem to please help me assure
that no yucky bug will make our food impure.
 
I pray that none of these will contaminate our heart,
so, they won’t cause us to become from Hashem apart.

Based on the Book of Vayikra Chapter 11 verse 23 24, 41 44. 

 

ספר ויקרא פרק יא פסוק כג וְכֹל שֶׁרֶץ הָעוֹף, אֲשֶׁר לוֹ אַרְבַּע רַגְלָיִם שֶׁקֶץ הוּא, לָכֶם:

“But all winged swarming things, which have four feet, are an abomination to you” (Vayikra 11:23). 

ספר ויקרא פרק יא פסוק כד וּלְאֵלֶּה, תִּטַּמָּאוּ...          

“By these, you shall become impure…” (Vayikra 11:24).

 

ספר ויקרא פרק יא פסוק מא וְכָל הַשֶּׁרֶץ, הַשֹּׁרֵץ עַל הָאָרֶץ  שֶׁקֶץ הוּא, לֹא יֵאָכֵל:

“Any creeping creature that creeps on the ground is an abomination; it shall not be eaten” (Vayikra 11:41).

 

ספר ויקרא פרק יא פסוק מב 

כֹּל הוֹלֵךְ עַל גָּחוֹן וְכֹל הוֹלֵךְ עַל אַרְבַּע, עַד כָּל מַרְבֵּה רַגְלַיִם, לְכָל הַשֶּׁרֶץ, הַשֹּׁרֵץ עַל הָאָרֶץ לֹא תֹאכְלוּם, כִּי שֶׁקֶץ הֵם:

“Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes upon all fours, or whatever has many legs, among all creeping creatures that creep on the ground, you shall not eat, for they are an abomination” (Vayikra 11:42). 

ספר ויקרא פרק יא פסוק מג אַל תְּשַׁקְּצוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם בְּכָל הַשֶּׁרֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵץ וְלֹא תִטַּמְּאוּ בָּהֶם וְנִטְמֵתֶם בָּם:

“You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping creature that creeps, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, that you should become impure through them” (Vayikra 11:43).

 

ספר ויקרא פרק יא פסוק מד  

כִּי אֲנִי הָשֵׁם כ, אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתֶּם וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים, כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אָנִי; וְלֹא תְטַמְּאוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם, בְּכָל הַשֶּׁרֶץ הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל הָאָרֶץ:

“For I am Hashem your G-d; sanctify yourselves therefore and be holy; for I am Holy, and you shall not defile yourselves through any creeping creature that crawls on the ground” (Vayikra 11:44).

 

תלמוד בבלי מסכת יומא דף לט/א תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל עבירה מטמטמת לבו של אדם שנאמר ולא תטמאו בהם ונטמתם בם אל תקרי ונטמאתם אלא ונטמטם תנו רבנן (אל) [ולא] תטמאו בהם ונטמתם בם אדם מטמא עצמו מעט מטמאין אותו הרבה מלמטה מטמאין אותו מלמעלה בעולם הזה מטמאין אותו לעולם הבא:

In the school of Rabbi Yishmael it was taught, Sin blocks the heart of a person, as it is stated: “Do not impurify yourselves with them, so that you should not be thereby impurified” (Vayikra 11:43). Do not read [that term as]: “And be impurified [venitmetem]”; rather, [read it as]: And your hearts will be blocked [venitamtem] (Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 39a).

 

1. Insects which live in water: Four prohibitions (Vayikra 11:42, 11:43, 11:44).

2. Insects which crawl on the ground: Five prohibitions (Vayikra 11: 41, 11:42, 11:43).

3. Flying insects: Six prohibitions (Vayikra 11:24, 11:41, 11:42, 11:43).

4. An insect is only prohibited if it can be seen with the naked eye, even if it appears as only a tiny dot. This includes insects whose color precludes their discernment against the background of the fruit.

5. The eggs of insects are prohibited, but they are nullified within a mixture of sixty times more. 

6. A whole insect is never nullified in a mixture of even a thousand times more. 

 

Prayer for Getting Rid of Negative Thoughts

 

Parashat Tzav

Prayer for Getting Rid of Negative Thoughts
 
Almighty G-d, let me face You like the first man,
returning to Your Presence the best that I can!
 
I may have mastered rectifying my actions to a certain extent.
Yet when it comes to my thoughts, I’m extremely discontent.
 
Hashem, I feel completely powerless in this domain.
Please help me from unwanted thoughts to abstain!
 
Burn away with holy fire
any negative desire!
 
Help me depressing emotions revert,
to steer clear of feeling needlessly hurt!
 
Spare me from coveting the neighbor’s grass,
or from judging the student coming late to class!
 
Let the sour memories of old and recent clashes
dissolve and disintegrate into powdery ashes!
 
Help me overcome any destructive thought,
that only makes me feel down and distraught!
 
Hashem, I cry out to You to remove sadness and despair!
Empower me with the strength for every challenge to bear!
 
Of Your goodness strengthen me to become aware!
This will help me accept that life isn’t always fair.  
 
Why do we have such a need to blame?
Allow me to let go of guilt and shame!
 
What does it help to feel that I’m no good?
worrying about all the things that I should?
 
Let any hardship or interaction that may seem mean,
be considered a burnt offering wiping my slate clean!
 
May I become renewed with happy thoughts begun,
like a flourishing, green sprout reaching for the sun!

Based on the Book of Vayikra Chapter 6 verse 2-18 and Chapter 7 verse 1. 

ספר ויקרא פרק ו פסוק ב

...זֹאת תּוֹרַת הָעֹלָה הִוא הָעֹלָה עַל מוֹקְדָה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כָּל הַלַּיְלָה עַד הַבֹּקֶר וְאֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תּוּקַד בּוֹ:

“This is the law of the burnt offering: That is the burnt offering which burns on the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall burn with it” (Vayikra 6:2). 

ספר ויקרא פרק ו פסוק ו  אֵשׁ תָּמִיד תּוּקַד עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לֹא תִכְבֶּה:

“A continuous fire shall burn upon the altar; it shall not go out” (Vayikra 6:6).

 

ספר ויקרא פרק ו פסוק יח דַּבֵּר אֶל אַהֲרֹן וְאֶל בָּנָיו לֵאמֹר זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַחַטָּאת בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּשָּׁחֵט הָעֹלָה תִּשָּׁחֵט הַחַטָּאת לִפְנֵי הָשֵׁם קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים הִוא:

“Speak to Aharon and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: The sin offering shall be slaughtered before the Eternal in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. It is a holy of holies” (Vayikra 6:18). 

ספר ויקרא פרק ז פסוק א וְזֹאת תּוֹרַת הָאָשָׁם קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים הוּא:

“And this is the law of the guilt offering. It is a holy of holies” (Vayikra 7:1).

 

מדרש ויקרא רבה פרק ז פסקה ג

גופא אמר רשב"י לעולם אין העולה באה אלא על הרהור הלב...

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said: The burnt offering always comes (as atonement) for thoughts of the heart… (Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 7:3). 

Prayer for Shedding Our Undesirable Traits and Opening Ourselves to Hashem’s Calling

Parashat Vayikra

Prayer for Shedding Our Undesirable Traits

and Opening Ourselves to Hashem’s Calling
 
Hashem, help me my selfish husk to expel,
all the meanness which is part of my shell!
 
Each and every lustful urge,
I desire once and for all to purge.
 
Like the serpent exchanging its skin,
help me strip away every single sin!
 
Every outgrown character trait I gladly shed,
dressing up in compassion and kindness instead.
 
Like a bloody sacrifice of meat,
I cast my shell beneath Your feet!
 
Let Your sacrifices be my broken heart,
desiring to remove my unworthy part!
 
Guide me to give only what is truly my own,
so for all my unworthiness I may atone!
 
Grant me the renewed spirit I yearn to receive,
so, that I may to Your holy Presence cleave!
 
Like you called Moshe from your meeting Tent,
Call me, so my soul too will receive an ascent!
 
Let me remain in holiness without falling,
so, I can open myself to hear Your calling!
 
May I keep dancing to the beat of Your drum,
following You wherever You want me to come!
 
When all life’s superfluous tarnished static fall away,
then the inner light will illuminate both night and day!
 
Show me to reach for the light even during stress,
Then through thick and thin Your Name I will bless!
 
Open my ears and heart to perpetually stay in tune,
sensing Mashiach’s fragrant presence coming soon!

Based on the Book of Vayikra Chapter 1 and 2.

ספר ויקרא פרק א פסוק א וַיִּקְרָא אֶל משֶׁה וַיְדַבֵּר הַשֵּׁם אֵלָיו מֵאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד לֵאמֹר: (ב) דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם אָדָם כִּי יַקְרִיב מִכֶּם קָרְבָּן לַהַשֵּׁם מִן הַבְּהֵמָה מִן הַבָּקָר וּמִן הַצֹּאן תַּקְרִיבוּ אֶת קָרְבַּנְכֶם:

“He called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When a man from [among] you brings a sacrifice to Hashem; from animals, from cattle or from the flock you shall bring your sacrifice” (Vayikra 1:1-2).

בב

רש"י על ויקרא פרק א פסוק ב 

אדם - למה נאמר מה אדם הראשון לא הקריב מן הגזל שהכל היה שלו אף אתם לא תקריבו מן הגזל:

Heb.אָדָם /Adam - Why is this term used here [as opposed to אִיש/Ish? [It alludes to Adam, the first man on earth, and teaches us:] Just as Adam, the first man, never offered sacrifices from stolen property, since everything was his, so too, you must not offer sacrifices from stolen property [Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 2:7]; (Rashi, Vayikra 1:2). 

ספר ויקרא פרק ב פסוק א

וְנֶפֶשׁ כִּי תַקְרִיב קָרְבַּן מִנְחָה לַהַשֵּׁם סֹלֶת יִהְיֶה קָרְבָּנוֹ וְיָצַק עָלֶיהָ שֶׁמֶן וְנָתַן עָלֶיהָ לְבֹנָה:

“And if a person brings a meal offering to Hashem, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil over it and place frankincense upon it” (Vayikra 2:2)..          

ספורנו עה"ת ספר ויקרא פרק א פסוק ב                                                                                                                     אדם כי יקריב מכם. כי יקריב מעצמכם בוידוי דברים והכנעה, על דרך ונשלמה פרים שפתינו וכאמרו זבחי אלהים רוח נשברה כי אין חפץ בכסילים המקריבים בלתי הכנעה קודמת,  אמרו ז"ל מכם ולא כולכם, להוציא את המשומד:

When you bring yourselves close to G-d by means of sacrificing your essence through confession by humbling yourselves as it states וּנְשַׁלְּמָה פָרִים שְׂפָתֵינוּ - “…we will pay with bulls after having done so first with our lips” (Hoshea 14:3) King David says זִבְחֵי אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה - “The sacrifices of G-d are a broken spirit” (Tehillim 51:19). For G-d is not interested in the fools who offer sacrificial animals if they have not first humbled themselves. Our sages paraphrase this when pointing out that the Torah does not write here כּוּלְכֶם/kulchem – ‘your entire selves,’ but מִכֶּם/mikem – ‘something emanating from you,’ i.e., “by excreting the spiritually unworthy parts of you” (Sforno, Vayikra 1:2).

 

ספר תהילים פרק נא פסוק יט זִבְחֵי אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה לֵב נִשְׁבָּר וְנִדְכֶּה אֱלֹהִים לֹא תִבְזֶה:

“The sacrifices of G-d are a broken spirit; O G-d, You will not despise a broken and crushed heart” (Tehillim 51:19)