healing

This article originally appeared on the Caje website; our staff is now actively involved in developing and providing programs for NewCaje.

Judaism is rich in both practical humanitarian, psychological and spiritual wisdom about how to survive and respond to disasters of every kind. Here you will find important resources for both.

Goal #1: Pause to assess your own reaction to the disaster; this will help you prepare to be with students.

Version 1:
both jointly composed by Rabbi Goldie Milgram & Hubbatzin Barry Bub, MD

Praised be the Source of Life, present in the miracle of human being, for the healing powers of body, mind and spirit.

Grant me ever renewing faith, courage, and comfort.

May each osteoblast, the cells which heal bones, be like the angel Gabriel, bringing strength and healing bonding.

May each white corpuscle, the cells which conquer infection, be like the angel Uriel, carrying healing light to the the site of surgery, rapidly closing each wound.

Jews take collective responsibility for the moral targets that get missed in life. At least ten days before Rosh HaShannah prayers called Selihot are added where, having empathy for ourselves as only human, we admit personal and collective ownership of the full range of problematic human behaviors:

ashamnu
We are guilty (spiritually desolate and distant from our higher selves)

bagadnu
We have betrayed (our loved ones, the community, the planet)

Is it possible to allow time in a medical practice to really notice who has died and what they have meant to those who have been involved in their care?

It is traditional to say Kaddish once burial has taken place. There are several forms of Kaddish in Jewish liturgy more familiar among them are the Reader's Kaddish, hatzi-kaddish, Kaddish d'rabbanan (respect for teachers) and Mourner's Kaddish.

This caregiver's Kaddish is based on the internal meaning of the traditional Kaddish, and is designed to be said by the professional staff. This could really be a Kaddish said by any professional care giver - chaplain, home health aide, therapist, etc.