Not all Jewish prayers are long! A concise simple prayer can also be powerful and sincere. Towards the end of this week’s Torah portion, Beha’alotecha, after Aaron and Miriam challenge Moses’s leadership and after Miriam is struck with a skin disease, the text says, “And Moses cried unto the Eternal saying, “Please G-d, Heal her now.” In Hebrew: El Na Refa Na La. (Numbers 12 :13) This five-word plea, one of the first prayers in the Torah, and the shortest, is about health. Moshe, showing great compassion, turns to God with this concise and deeply emotional prayer.
Even though it is only 5 words, they are based on the basic prayer structure: an address to G-d and a request. The first word, El (G-d), which is the subject of the sentence, is parallel to the fifth word, La (Her), which is the object of the sentence. The second and fourth words: Na (Please) are identical, and express the urgency and agitated nature of the prayer. In the middle is the word, Refa (Heal) which is the core of the prayer – the actual request to heal.
The research is clear. When people know that others are praying for them, they heal faster. They feel connected to a community, even if they are isolated. Miriam was outside the camp for seven days and then brought back inside the camp. That is a metaphor for community.
The following observation is from Gila Tolub, a French-Israeli healthcare professional, who since October 7th has focused on accelerating trauma healing for the nation. “El Na Refa Na La is also a call to action for all of us to engage in the healing process, to support one another, and to strive for a healthier, more resilient Israel. We must remember that true healing encompasses physical, mental, social, and spiritual health, and that the power of compassion, community, and collective effort will enable us to overcome the trauma and come out stronger and more united than ever before.”
Let us continue to pray for the healing of those in our community and in Israel who are sick and those who are suffering from trauma there and around the world.
El Na Refa Na La – O God, pray heal her. And him. And them. And us.
Cantor Lorna Wallach
