Parasha 36 • Behaalotecha • Numbers 8:1–12:16
I was working on this week’s blog when I heard the news of Operation Rising Lion, Israel’s preemptive attack on Iran. I believe in the power of prayer, and felt moved to write a new prayer for protection and peace.
A Prayer for Peace and Protection
Holy Protector,
we turn to You in this hour of deep concern,
asking Your protection
for Israel and its citizens.
We pray for their safety
and the security of the country,
for innocent civilians
throughout the Middle East,
and for all who are caught
in the crossfire of conflict.
Source of Strength,
we yearn for the comfort of believing
that everything will be all right.
Quiet the fears that threaten to deafen us;
help us hold on to hope.
Cradle us in Your Limitless Embrace—
those who fear what is about to unfold,
those who grieve what has already been lost,
and those who long for the lasting peace
that feels so very far away.May the words of Isaiah 2:4:
“Nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war anymore”
become true in our day—in this very moment.
Source of Goodness,
shine Your healing light on us
and all those in Israel we hold in our hearts.
Shelter, shield, strengthen, and sustain us—
and show us the path to enduring peace.
“Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem”
![Insert: Mizrach framed artwork photo here]
Thinking about Israel reminded me of a piece I created in 2002 in memory of Paul Winton, a man who deeply loved the land and its people. Commissioned by his wife Laura and son Mark, this artwork hangs in the entryway of the Congregation of Reform Judaism in Orlando.
The Hebrew word mizrach (“east”) traditionally marks the direction of prayer toward Jerusalem. This piece incorporates the verse from Psalm 122:
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
They who love thee shall prosper.
Peace be within thy walls,
and prosperity within thy palaces.”
As our hearts turn towards the East, I thought I would share a piece I did immediately after October 7th.
From Peace to Healing
While the headlines call our hearts to pray for peace in the world, this week’s Torah portion invites us to turn inward—toward a more personal kind of prayer: one for healing.
In the final verses of Behaalotecha, Moses cries out to God on behalf of his sister Miriam, who has fallen ill:
“El na, r’fa na la” — “Please, God, heal her!” (Numbers 12:13)
These five Hebrew words—the shortest prayer in the Torah—capture a universal experience: the helplessness we feel when someone we love is suffering.
In response to this sacred moment of vulnerability, I wrote Healing Light, a prayer for caregivers—those who long to bring comfort, strength, and hope when words and actions feel so limited.
Healing Light
A Prayer for Parasha Behaalotecha
Source of Hope and Healing,
My loved one is suffering, and I feel powerless.
Help me provide comfort and reassurance
in the face of this health challenge
and the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen.
El na, r’fa na la—Please heal them!
Minimize their pain; calm their mind
and bolster their spirits.
Grant me the ability to be
an ongoing source of strength and support.
Allow me to anticipate their wants
and advocate for their needs.
O God, help me remember
that it is more important to listen than to talk.
Bless us both with courage and clarity
if difficult decisions must be made,
and the time to make them thoughtfully.
Thank You for the gift of our lives,
which are in Your hands,
and our souls, which are in Your keeping.
May we continue to grow closer to You,
and may our faith be stronger than our fears.
Source of All,
shine Your healing light on my loved one
and on all those who are suffering.
Grant them a R’fuah Shleima—a complete healing.
May it be soon.
Journaling Questions
- Do you believe in the power of prayer? How often do you pray?
- What are you praying for right now?
- Who are you praying for? Are you on your prayer list?
- What helps you offer comfort, even when you can’t fix the situation?
- What are you doing to help heal our broken world?
Closing Blessing
May peace dwell within our hearts,
and may the light of love help heal the great divide.
May the cries of our broken world be met
with compassion, courage, and care.
And may the day soon come
when swords are turned into plowshares,
and all people walk together
on the path of wholeness and peace.
עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו
הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ
וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל.
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן.
Oseh shalom bimromav,
Hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu,
v’al kol Yisra’el.
V’imru: Amen.
May the One who makes peace in the high places
make peace for us and for all Israel.
And let us say: Amen.
