To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s Communal T’hilim List, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.
There is an important characteristic in Judaism called Hakaras HaTov, being grateful and showing gratitude. Every Yid must develop an awareness and a mindset that recognizes all the good that one receives, and appropriately thank the Giver/giver. One of the ways in which we demonstrate our thanks to Hashem is by reciting Psalm 100 – Mizmor L’Sodah – during Shacharis, our weekday morning prayer service.
Psalm 100 – A Psalm of Thanksgiving – is a song to be sung upon the sacrifices of the “Todah” (“Thanksgiving”) offering. The Sages explain that a person would bring a Todah offering upon emerging from one of four life-threatening situations: imprisonment, grave illness, a sea voyage, or desert travel. Psalm 100, which accompanied the Todah offering, is a tribute to the Todah, the Thanksgiving offering.
Psalm 100 famously declares, “Ivdu es Hashem b’simchah; bo’u l’fanav bir’nanah” – Serve God with happiness and joy throughout your life; enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courtyards with praise!” This phrase imbues us to perform Hashem’s commandments in a state of happiness. Radak and S’forno explain that one should express joy while serving Hashem to show that it is not a burden to do Hashem’s work. The importance of simchah is expressed by a verse in the Tochachah (Rebuke) that describes the terrible calamities that will befall the Jewish people if they fail to heed the word of Hashem. In Sefer D’varim 28:47, it explains that terrible curses of Hashem will befall klal Yisrael “...because you did not serve God with happiness and a full heart…”
Psalm 100 – a Psalm of Thanksgiving – is a directive to serve Hashem with joy. If a person serves Hashem and abides his mitzvos without happiness, the person may begin to act by rote and his prayers will lack meaning. The person may also begin to view the mitzvos as burdens and believe he is doing Hashem a favor by performing them. In order to serve Hashem with happiness, every Jew needs to develop an awareness and acknowledge Hashem’s daily miracles and kindnesses. When we begin to recognize that all the good comes from Hashem, then we can begin to translate that happiness into a daily expression of gratitude. Rabbi Avigdor Miller teaches us: “You should make a career of counting your blessings, it should be a career!” If we spend each day thinking of just ten things that we are grateful for, we will surely be able to serve Hashem with more happiness. Happiness is living with gratitude!
List of People
Who Need a R’fuah Sh’leimah
(Please recite Psalms
20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.)
Efrayim ben Leah
Shmuel ben Moavar
Reuven Asher ben Yehudis
Efrat bas Oshra
Yafah bas Monavar
Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zisel
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Zahavah Golda bas Shoshanah
Yonasan ben Sofia
Ruth bas Miryam
Elisheva bas Miriam
David Chayim ben Leah
Rabbanit Mazal Tov Rira bas Simchah
Sarah bas Yafah
Hertzl ben Sarah
Chayah Sheina Malkah bas Gittel
Ruchama Chayah Fruma
bas Perel Miriam Malkah
Tinok ben Moriah Temimah
Ezra Rafael ben Taoos Miriam
Sally Ronit bas Taoos Miriam
Yisrael Meir ben Daphne Bruriah
Chayah Gittel bas Sarah Esther
Yeshayah ben Moshe
Rivkah Esther bas Naomi
Yehudah Yudel ben Miriam Gittel
Elka bas Yehudis
Ilan Chaim ben Yael
Benyamin ben Sarah
Rav Avraham Yechezkel
ben Esther Tizzpa
