Comments on: Remembering Hector, My Betta Fish

By: diana goldman

diana goldman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:17:16 +0000

Thanks rabbi for responding.
I have talked with a couple of rabbis about my mi shebeirach question. What I am being told is the prayers are also for the living. Like you say to have hope. But, I think I need something else. I am looking for comfort. So, I guess what I’ve been told is correct. Of course, there are no easy answers that are going to make everything all better.
When loved ones leave this life, we are left to ponder all these questions and find meaning to life? (I guess).
Thank you for your time.

By: Rabbi Baum

Rabbi Baum — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:51:42 +0000

Diana, I am so sorry to hear about your recent losses. I hope you are finding some comfort, even in these difficult times.
You raise an excellent question about how we can pray for a complete recovery in cases where that will likely not be the outcome. While I think it’s always important to maintain hope, I think it’s also important to be realistic. That means that there are times when we know there will not be a speedy recovery – and we should recognize that and find words for that experience as well.
At OurJewishCommunity.org we are committed to meaning what we say and saying what we mean. Some of the readings for times of crisis that I mentioned are specifically for cases where there is little chance of recovery.
Thanks for participating in our community.

By: diana goldman

diana goldman — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:20:00 +0000

I am responding because I just lost a cousin to brain cancer thursday. In august I lost my grandma.
My loved ones had been on mi shebeirach lists. My question is: how can we pray for a complete recovery, when these loved ones have no possibility of this?