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Conservative Judaism/MiShebayrach
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Question
I am a 51 year old male in New York City. Can a personal MiShebayrach blessing be given by a Conservative Rabbi?
( or Cantor who does it in our synagogue), to a non jewish 10 year old boy who will be a guest at my son's bar mitzvah. The young boy is very ill and probably won't live many years. His parents, Roman Catholics, recently put Mezuzzahs on the outside of their house and on the door posts of the boy's bedroom, the daughter's bedroom and the parent's bedroom.
Dear Brian,
Thanks for writing.
This is a complicated question. To begin with it is congregational policy which is entirely int he hands of your Rabbi or whoever is the congregation's authority should there be no Rabbi.
My opinion has not standing in that matter.
For information, many believe that a prayer for good health can be recited for anyone, but whether it "may" be done so with a name at the Torah becomes congregational policy.
Were I asked to do so, I would recite a general prayer for healing, ask everyone to fill in the names of those for whom we are praying - and explicitly point out that one can silently whisper Hebrew, Yiddish, English names, for members of one's family or friends or patients [docotrs] - and thus no one is pointed out inappropriately, but is included.
Best wishes and speak with your Rabbi.
Rabbi Dov
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you so much for your help. Regards, Brian | ||
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Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner
Expertise
Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history, philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.
Experience
I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)
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