Blog

We are pleased to share three prayers – one over a thousand years old, two written recently, that can be used when receiving the vaccines to prevent COVID-19.

Prayer for Acts of Healing
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors that this endeavor bring healing, for You are the generous healer.

Siddur Edit HaMizrach, Prayer book of Mizrachi (Eastern) Jewish communities
– Hebrew can be found at: https://www.sefaria.org/Siddur_Edot_HaMizrach%2C_Assorted_Blessings_and_Prayers%2C_Prayer_for_Taking_Medicine.1?lang=bi

A Prayer for Receiving the COVID Vaccine
I have been praying for this day and now it is here!
With great excitement, a touch of trepidation
And with deep gratitude
I give thanks
To all the scientists who toiled day and night
So that I might receive this tiny vaccination
That will protect me and all souls around this world.
With the pandemic still raging
I am blessed to do my part to defeat it.
Let this be the beginning of a new day,
A new time of hope, of joy, of freedom
And most of all, of health.
I thank You, God, for blessing me with life
For sustaining my life
And for enabling me to reach this awe-filled moment.
Amen

Rabbi Naomi Levy, Spiritual Leader, Nashuva (Los Angeles)

Prayer Before a Vaccination
May it be Your will, God and God of our Forefathers, that the vaccinations that we are about to receive will bring health, blessing and redemption, and protect us from suffering and terrible diseases.

May this vaccination work quickly with minimal pain and side effects. Through this vaccine, may we merit blessing and protection for infants, the elderly, and the sick who cannot be vaccinated.

May it be your will that the nurses and doctors who provide our vaccines enjoy long and peaceful life, financial security and success.

May the merit of their preservation of our health stand in their stead until the end of days.

Through the merit of observing the commandment “you should guard yourself carefully” (Deuteronomy 4:15), may we be privileged to raise children to Torah, the marriage canopy, and good deeds. Blessed is the One who hears prayer.

Hannah Katzman, Writer & International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Petach Tikva, Israel (full Hebrew text at https://opensiddur.org/prayers/lifecycle/living/well-being-health-and-caregiving/prayer-before-a-vaccination-byhannah-katsman/ )

Prayer for People Being Vaccinated
God who answers in times of distress and saves, “Healer of broken hearts who binds their wounds” (Psalm 147), who shares divine wisdom with flesh and blood and has given us understanding, science and discernment to create this vaccine:

May it be Your will that through the power of this human effort aided by God who graciously grants humans knowledge and teaches mortals understanding, science and discernment that I merit health and resilience so that these verses may be fulfilled for us: “I have removed illness from your midst” “for I the ETERNAL am your healer” (Exodus 23; 15). “Let them praise the ETERNAL for God’s steadfast love and wondrous deeds for humanity” (Psalm 107).

Praised are You who brings healing to all flesh and does wonders.

Rabbi Andrew Sacks, Director of the Masorti [Conservative] Movement’s
Rabbinical Assembly in Israel
– Hebrew text at https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/prayers-covid-vaccine