Her Early End
The pronouncement on that Friday, the doctor’s stark words casting a shadow over the approaching holiness, felt like a finality we were unwilling to accept. “Hashem is boss!” became our unwavering declaration, a testament to our ultimate reliance on the Divine even when human hope seemed to dwindle. As bein hashmashot (twilight) passed, the time the medical professionals had indicated, we remained steadfast at Roizy’s bedside, our love and hope refusing to yield.
In that liminal space, we instinctively turned to our forefathers’ approach to Jewish traditions at life’s end, seeking solace and guidance. Just as our patriarch Yaakov, nearing his final moments, gathered all his sons around his bed (Bereishit 49), we felt an innate need for communal presence and spiritual unity surrounding Roizy. Yaakov’s final gathering was a moment of blessing, of imparting wisdom, and of ensuring the continuity of the family’s spiritual legacy. While our circumstances were different, the fundamental human need for connection and shared purpose in the face of mortality resonated deeply.
Drawing Strength From Prayer
Similarly, the stories of various Tzadikim (righteous men) throughout the generations teach us the power of communal prayer and the sanctity of the final moments. It is a tradition to surround the seriously ill with a minyan (group of 10 men to pray), creating a sacred space for supplication. The Zohar speaks of the profound significance of the community’s presence during these times, elevating the prayers and invoking divine mercy.
Following this timeless wisdom, we reached out to other visitors in the bikur cholim room (volunteers who extend aid to the sick), inviting them to join us for a minyan. The ancient understanding that the Shechinah (Heavenly presence) rests above the head of the sick filled our hearts with a sense of sacred proximity. Surrounded by this small but powerful gathering, we poured out our tefillot (prayer), our voices rising in heartfelt supplication for Roizy’s well-being, echoing the countless prayers offered by Jewish communities throughout history for those facing illness.
Voices Unite In Hope And Praise
The following morning, our ranks swelled. Another minyan gathered, their voices united in a fervent plea for a Refuah Shleima (complete recovery). When the time came to recite the Nishmat prayer, a profound wave of communal hope surged through the room. The words of praise and gratitude for Hashem’s countless blessings resonated with an intensity that filled the air, our voices rising with unbridled enthusiasm, a powerful echo of the collective prayers that have sustained our people through generations. The sheer volume of our communal yearning, a testament to the depth of our care, prompted a gentle reminder from a passing nurse to lower our voices, a necessary consideration for the delicate environment of the PICU.
Anchored In Faith
These moments, etched in our memory, underscore the profound power of prayer and the immeasurable strength found in community, traditions passed down through millennia guiding us in our darkest hours. Just as Yaakov gathered his sons to bless and say goodbye to his children at the end of his life, and generations have gathered in prayer for the ill, we found solace and strength in unity. In the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, our faith became our anchor, and the collective tefillot of those who surrounded us served as a powerful lifeline. They were a tangible manifestation of our belief that even in the darkest valleys, the light of hope, fueled by prayer and the unwavering support of our community, can shine brightly, guided by the wisdom of our ancestors and the enduring power of our traditions. They reinforced the eternal truth that ultimately, our lives and the fate of our loved ones rest in the hands of the ultimate Healer, and that in turning to Him together, we find solace, strength, and a profound sense of connection to our past, our present, and our enduring faith.
Read ‘A Sacred Journey with Roizy 1’
