Sunday, August 24, 2014

The blessing to recite for medicine

Hi,

One who enters to let blood says, "May it be Your will, Gd, my Master, that this be a cure for me, for You heal at no cost." After he lets blood, he should say, "Blessed is the Healer of the sick."
(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 230:4)


And so in every healing endeavour he should say this, and not think that any particular entity will heal him, only the Creator. Via this prayer he will place his trust in Gd, and ask that this should heal him.
(Mishneh Berurah 230:6)



Therefore, when one takes medication as well - even many times in a day – and for every medical action (i.e. putting in eye drops, smearing on a paste, or giving an injection), or for every surgical action, however minor, we must turn to Gd with this prayer, for Gd, and only Gd, is the true healer. Also before any exercise of any kind that one performs at the instruction of a doctor because of his illness, one must turn to Gd with this prayer. Even for something which seems to be minor, such as when a mother places a bandage on a child's small cut, she should be careful to recite with him this y'hi ratzon, for a cut can develop infection despite the bandage and [yet] some heal without anything at all – it is all in the hands of Heaven. And my mentor Rabbi Neuvirth said to me, "This is obvious." Further, with this she will take the opportunity to teach her child that it is not the bandage that heals, but it is Gd, and there is no other.
(Rabbi Dr. Avraham Sofer Abraham, Nishmat Avraham Orach Chaim 230:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

2 comments:

  1. Good morning - is there a parallel yehi ratzon for those who prescribe? Michael

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  2. Hi Michael,

    The language of that prayer seems to me to be applicable to both the patient and the physician.

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