In the Gemara (Bava M’tzia 59a), we learn that since the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash, the gates of t’filah have been closed. However, our Sages teach us that the power of t’filah from the heart combined together with a complete trust in Hashem and awareness that He is the One in control of the world, can break through all the gates of Heaven and there is nothing that can stand in its way. There is nothing stronger than prayer from closeness and love of Hashem; it breaks all barriers and can change what has been decreed.
Chazal teach us that, after the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, although the gates of prayer were closed, the gates of tears have remained open. Women are given a special power of prayer: the power of crying. The Gemara cautions us that “One should always be careful about causing pain to his wife, because her tears are frequent, and she is easily caused pain.” The power of women has always been to daven with all of their heart and to cry out with bitter tears to Hashem. David HaMelech said in T’hilim 56:9: “Place my tears in Your flask, into Your record.” Every tear is gathered into a vessel by Hashem and guarded one by one. There is not a prayer and a tear that does not influence things; it’s not possible that a tear goes to waste.
According to the Gemara, when one davens for the r’fuah (recovery) of his friend, he should include them amongst the other ill people in the Jewish nation, for, as a result, this person will be included in the merits of the broader nation. This will increase his friend’s chance of receiving a r’fuah. In addition, it is brought down in the Talmud: “Kol ha’mispaleil b’ad chaveiro v’hu tzarich l’oso davar, hu ne’eneh t’chilah’: One who prays on behalf of his friend and is in similar straits, he is answered first. Klal Yisrael is like one body, and therefore, if anyone is sick, we should all feel a certain lack of wholeness. The t’filos that we offer up with compassion on behalf of a fellow Jew, who’s awaiting a similar y’shuah, are more powerful than any t’filah.
List of People Who Need a r’fuah sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Eliyahu ben Sophie
Yehudah Leon Yitzchak ben Esther
Yaakov ben Esther
Yosef Chaim ben Chanah Devorah
David ben Miriam
Eliyahu ben Rachel
Yitzchak ben Chanah Rinah
Tiran ben Basah
Zecharyah Shalom ben Batsheva Simchah
Elnathan ben Rozita
Yaakov Yosef ben Paya
Aharon Mordechai ben Sharon
Aharon Moshe ben Miriam
Binyamin ben Miriam
Moshe ben Chanah
Shmaryahu ben Raizel Shoshana Miriam
Efraim ben Leah
Ezra Rafael ben Taoos Miriam
Chayah Esther bas Barbara
Esther Fruma bas Beila
Shiva bas Manzal
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Sarah Miriam bas Chanah Batsheva
Rachel Leah bas Ita Yehudis
Chayah Rivkah bas Yocheved Keila
Yael Yehudis bas Sarah
Zohar Etana bas Henna Miriam
Avivah bas Yehudis
Tziporah bas Fruma
Saltanat Ronit bas Taoos Miriam
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.
