A Prayer for Guidance and Understanding

by 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.