Avoiding Doctors / A Pidyon Brings Redemption to a Person’s Soul A person should never go to a doctor. He should be aware that no doctor, no matter how expert, knows how to heal illness and discomfort. That is because no doctor is skilled enough to know which particular medicine heals a sick person, in accordance with the decree of God’s judgment that a sick person can be healed only by such-and-such a person, by such-andsuch a drug, and on such-and-such a day. Worse, most doctors are not fully aware of each individual’s illness, and they lack the knowledge of medicine to heal that individual because they are not truly experts in the science of healing, such that more people die because of doctors than die naturally. To bring about healing, one should only pray to God; furthermore, he should ask God to send the recovery before the illness, so that he will never experience any disease, discomfort or pain. In addition, a person should give money for the redemption of his soul. Related to that, he should pray for worthy people who will have the ability to make a pidyon nefesh with the money that he gives them. God is the True Healer Healer of the sick of Your nation, the Jewish people, the true Healer, the faithful and compassionate Healer! Have compassion on us and on Your entire nation, the House of Israel, and protect us from physicians and doctors.
In Your vast compassion, always send the recovery before the disease. Guard us and rescue us so that we never experience any disease, discomfort or pain at all.
Even when You send us some illness or discomfort, Heaven forbid, in accordance with the decree of Your holy and true judgment, please, Compassionate One, in Your vast compassion, guard us and rescue us so that we will not err, Heaven forbid, and place ourselves in the hands of doctors and physicians, Heaven forbid, for they are all idolatrous, they are altogether vanity.
No doctor is skilled and wise enough to know which particular medicine heals a sick person in accordance with the decree of Your judgment, that a sick person can be healed only by suchand- such a person, such-and-such a drug, and on such-and-such a day.
It is absolutely impossible for the sick person to be healed except by means of these particular causes that were decreed for his healing. And who, no matter how wise, can know all of this?
With a slight movement, doctors cause much damage and harm. At times they damage more than they rectify. They kill and murder people with their own hands. How many people have succumbed because of them! More people have died because of doctors than have died naturally, as is known to You, Master of all.
The honest doctors themselves admit that it is impossible to know this wisdom clearly. They admit without shame that it is better to refrain from healing procedures.
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, Creator of remedies, Master of wonders, You know that the world has sunk a great deal into the error of taking remedies for days and years, so that it is difficult to bring people out of this confused state.
In particular, when such people suffer greatly, may the Compassionate One protect us, they deliver themselves into the hands of doctors to seek healing and medicine for their illness.
But in most cases their hope is dashed, and the doctor cannot remove their pains, except when, due to Your mighty compassion and kindness, Your compassion rises to remove their pains and bandage their wounds.
Therefore, I have come before You, You Who are filled with compassion, the true Healer. Have compassion on us and help our hearts always understand that if we or anyone in our family needs healing, Heaven forbid, we should not go to doctors, but only seek the face of HaShem always.
Making a Pidyon Nefesh Strengthen our hearts to believe and trust in You and in Your true Tzaddikim and those who fear You. Help us and save us so that we will always give money for the redemption of our souls.
At every moment, send us worthy people who are truly God-fearing, who will have the ability to make a pidyon nefesh16Literally, “soul redemption.” with the money that we give them, so that the judgment regarding us, our children and our families will be sweetened by the pidyon nefesh that these people will perform on our behalf.
Heal us, HaShem, and we will be healed, save us and we will be saved, for You are our praise. Bring complete healing to all of our wounds, pains and diseases (and in particular to the sick person, [Hebrew name], the son/daughter of [mother’s Hebrew name]), for You are a faithful and compassionate God, King and Healer.
God, in Your vast compassion and great kindness, please heal us, for You alone know the great suffering and pain of all of those who experience disease and pain.
You Who are filled with compassion, have compassion on them and do not hide Your face from them. Watch them and look after them in their suffering and pain. Compassionately heal them, strengthen them and revive them, swiftly and easily.
May the verse be realized, “HaShem will remove from you every disease, and all the evil illnesses of Egypt that you knew, He will not place upon you; He will place them upon all your enemies.”
And the verse states, “And He said, ‘If you listen to the voice of HaShem your God and do that which is straight in His eyes, and listen to His commandments and guard all His laws, all the diseases that I placed in Egypt I will not place upon you, for I am HaShem your Healer.’” Amen. So may it be His will.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ג' - פִּדְיוֹן נֶפֶשׁ]
רוֹפֵא חוֹלֵי עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל, רוֹפֵא אֱמֶת, רוֹפֵא נֶאֱמָן וְרַחֲמָן, רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְשָׁמְרֵנוּ מֵרוֹפְאִים וְדָאקְטוֹרִים.
Avoiding Doctors / A Pidyon Brings Redemption to a Person’s Soul
A person should never go to a doctor. He should be aware that no doctor, no matter how expert, knows how to heal illness and discomfort. That is because no doctor is skilled enough to know which particular medicine heals a sick person, in accordance with the decree of God’s judgment that a sick person can be healed only by such-and-such a person, by such-andsuch a drug, and on such-and-such a day.
Worse, most doctors are not fully aware of each individual’s illness, and they lack the knowledge of medicine to heal that individual because they are not truly experts in the science of healing, such that more people die because of doctors than die naturally.
To bring about healing, one should only pray to God; furthermore, he should ask God to send the recovery before the illness, so that he will never experience any disease, discomfort or pain.
In addition, a person should give money for the redemption of his soul. Related to that, he should pray for worthy people who will have the ability to make a pidyon nefesh with the money that he gives them.
God is the True Healer
Healer of the sick of Your nation, the Jewish people, the true Healer, the faithful and compassionate Healer! Have compassion on us and on Your entire nation, the House of Israel, and protect us from physicians and doctors.
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים תַּקְדִּים תָּמִיד רְפוּאָה לְמַכָּה, וְתִשְׁמְרֵנוּ וְתַצִּילֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא נָבוֹא לִידֵי שׁוּם מַחֲלָה וּמֵחוֹשׁ וּכְאֵב כְּלָל.
In Your vast compassion, always send the recovery before the disease. Guard us and rescue us so that we never experience any disease, discomfort or pain at all.
וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּעֵת אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁלַח לָנוּ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם אֵיזֶה חוֹלָאַת אוֹ מֵחוֹשׁ עַל פִּי גְזֵרַת דִּינֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהָאֲמִתִּיִּים, אָנָּא רַחוּם בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים שָׁמְרֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא נִטְעֶה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם לִמְסֹר עַצְמֵנוּ חָלִילָה, לְיַד הָרוֹפְאִים וְהַדָּאקְטוֹרִים, כִּי הֵן רוֹפְאֵי אֱלִיל כֻּלָּם, הֵמָּה מֵהֶבֶל יָחַד.
Even when You send us some illness or discomfort, Heaven forbid, in accordance with the decree of Your holy and true judgment, please, Compassionate One, in Your vast compassion, guard us and rescue us so that we will not err, Heaven forbid, and place ourselves in the hands of doctors and physicians, Heaven forbid, for they are all idolatrous, they are altogether vanity.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ הָאֱמֶת שֶׁאֵין שׁוּם רוֹפֵא יוֹדֵעַ לְרַפֹּאת הַחוֹלָאַת וְהַמֵּחוּשׁ כָּרָאוּי בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ,
You know the truth: that there is no doctor, not even a skilled expert, who knows how to truly and properly heal illness and discomfort.
אֲפִלּוּ הָרוֹפְאִים הַמֻּמְחִים הַבְּקִיאִים וּמֻפְלָגִים בְּחָכְמָתָם מְאֹד, כִּי אֵין שׁוּם רוֹפֵא מֻמְחֶה וְחָכָם, שֶׁיוּכַל לֵידַע וּלְכַוֵּן הַסַּם הַמְיֻחָד לְרַפֹּאת אוֹתוֹ הַחוֹלֶה, כְּפִי גְּזֵרַת דִּינֶיךָ שֶׁגָּזַרְתָּ שֶׁלֹּא יִתְרַפֵּא הַחוֹלֶה כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי וְסַם פְּלוֹנִי בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי.
No doctor is skilled and wise enough to know which particular medicine heals a sick person in accordance with the decree of Your judgment, that a sick person can be healed only by suchand- such a person, such-and-such a drug, and on such-and-such a day.
אֲשֶׁר עַל־כֵּן אִי אֶפְשַׁר בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן שֶׁיִּתְרַפֵּא הַחוֹלֶה כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי סִבּוֹת אֵלּוּ דַיְקָא שֶׁנִּגְזְרוּ עַל רְפוּאָתוֹ, וּמִי הוּא הֶחָכָם שֶׁיֵּדַע כָּל זֶה,
It is absolutely impossible for the sick person to be healed except by means of these particular causes that were decreed for his healing. And who, no matter how wise, can know all of this?
מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁרֹב הָרוֹפְאִים וְהַדָּאקְטוֹרִים הֵם נִבְעָרִים מִדַּעַת חָכְמַת הָרְפוּאוֹת, וְאֵינָם בְּקִיאִים הֵיטֵב בְּחָכְמַת הָרְפוּאָה,
And worse, most doctors lack the knowledge of individualized medicine and are not truly experts in the science of healing.
כִּי הִיא חָכְמָה עֲמוּקָה וְיֵשׁ בָּהּ חִלּוּקִים וְשִׁנּוּיִים רַבִּים לְאֵין שִׁעוּר וְתַכְלִית, אֲשֶׁר עַל־פִּי־רֹב אִי אֶפְשַׁר לְכַוֵּן הָאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ,
Medicine is a deep wisdom with many, endless divisions, so that in most cases, a person cannot truly understand it.
וּבִתְנוּעָה קַלָּה הֵם מַזִּיקִים הַרְבֵּה וּמַפְסִידִים וּמְקַלְקְלִים יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶׁמְּתַקְּנִים לִפְעָמִים, וְהֵם הוֹרְגִים וְרוֹצְחִים נְפָשׁוֹת בְּיָדַיִם, וְכַמָּה וְכַמָּה נְפָשׁוֹת שָׁקְעוּ עַל־יָדָם, כִּי רַבִּים אֲשֶׁר מֵתוּ עַל־יְדֵי הָרוֹפְאִים וְהַדָּאקְטוֹרִים, מֵאֲשֶׁר מֵתוּ מִיתַת עַצְמָן, כַּאֲשֶׁר נִגְלָה לְפָנֶיךָ אֲדוֹן כֹּל,
With a slight movement, doctors cause much damage and harm. At times they damage more than they rectify. They kill and murder people with their own hands. How many people have succumbed because of them! More people have died because of doctors than have died naturally, as is known to You, Master of all.
וְכַאֲשֶׁר הָרוֹפְאִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים מוֹדִים עַל זֶה בְּעַצְמָן, שֶׁאִי אֶפְשַׁר לֵידַע חָכְמָה זֹאת עַל בּוּרְיָהּ, וְהוֹדוּ וְלֹא בוֹשׁוּ, שֶׁטּוֹב יוֹתֵר לִמְנֹעַ מֵרְפוּאוֹת:
The honest doctors themselves admit that it is impossible to know this wisdom clearly. They admit without shame that it is better to refrain from healing procedures.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, בּוֹרֵא רְפוּאוֹת, אֲדוֹן הַנִּפְלָאוֹת. אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁכְּבָר נִשְׁתַּקַּע הָעוֹלָם הַרְבֵּה בְּטָעוּת זֶה לַעֲסֹק בִּרְפוּאוֹת, מִיָּמִים וְשָׁנִים הַרְבֵּה, עַד אֲשֶׁר קָשֶׁה לְהוֹצִיאָם מִמְּבוּכָה זֹאת,
Master of the world, You Who are filled with compassion, Creator of remedies, Master of wonders, You know that the world has sunk a great deal into the error of taking remedies for days and years, so that it is difficult to bring people out of this confused state.
וּבִפְרָט מֵחֲמַת גֹּדֶל הַצַּעַר וְהַמַּכְאוֹב שֶׁל כָּל סוֹבְלֵי חוֹלָאִים רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, הֵם מוֹסְרִים עַצְמָן לְיַד הָרוֹפְאִים לְבַקֵּשׁ תְּעָלָה וּתְרוּפָה לְמַכּוֹתָם,
In particular, when such people suffer greatly, may the Compassionate One protect us, they deliver themselves into the hands of doctors to seek healing and medicine for their illness.
אֲבָל רֻבָּם כְּכֻלָּם תּוֹחַלְתָּם נִכְזָבָה, וְהָרוֹפֵא לֹא יִגְהֶה מֵהֶם מָזוֹר, כִּי אִם בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, כַּאֲשֶׁר רַחֲמֶיךָ גּוֹבְרִים עֲלֵיהֶם לְהַגְהוֹת מְזוֹרָם וְלַחֲבֹשׁ חָלְיָם:
But in most cases their hope is dashed, and the doctor cannot remove their pains, except when, due to Your mighty compassion and kindness, Your compassion rises to remove their pains and bandage their wounds.
עַל־כֵּן בָּאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, רוֹפֵא אֱמֶת, רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְתֵן בְּלִבֵּנוּ בִּינָה לְהָבִין וּלְהַשְׂכִּיל בְּכָל עֵת אֲשֶׁר נִצְטָּרֵךְ לְאֵיזֶה רְפוּאָה לָנוּ אוֹ לִבְנֵי בֵיתֵינוּ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, לְבַל נֵלֵךְ וְנִדְרֹשׁ אַחַר הָרוֹפְאִים, רַק נִדְרֹשׁ וּנְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת פְּנֵי יְהֹוָה תָּמִיד.
Therefore, I have come before You, You Who are filled with compassion, the true Healer. Have compassion on us and help our hearts always understand that if we or anyone in our family needs healing, Heaven forbid, we should not go to doctors, but only seek the face of HaShem always.
וּתְחַזֵּק אֶת לְבָבֵנוּ לְהַאֲמִין וְלִבְטֹחַ בְּךָ וּבְצַדִּיקֶיךָ וִירֵאֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים. וְתַעֲזֹר לָנוּ וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִתֵּן מָמוֹן עַל פִּדְיוֹן נַפְשֵׁנוּ תָמִיד,
Making a Pidyon Nefesh
Strengthen our hearts to believe and trust in You and in Your true Tzaddikim and those who fear You. Help us and save us so that we will always give money for the redemption of our souls.
וְתַזְמִין לָנוּ בְּכָל עֵת אֲנָשִׁים כְּשֵׁרִים וִירֵאִים בֶּאֱמֶת, אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה לְאֵל יָדָם לַעֲשׂוֹת פִּדְיוֹן נֶפֶשׁ מֵהַכֶּסֶף אֲשֶׁר נִתֵּן לָהֶם, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיַּמְתִּיקוּ הַדִּין מֵעָלֵינוּ וּמֵעַל זַרְעֵנוּ וּבְנֵי בֵיתֵנוּ, עַל־יְדֵי הַפִּדְיוֹן נֶפֶשׁ שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ עֲבוּרֵנוּ.
At every moment, send us worthy people who are truly God-fearing, who will have the ability to make a pidyon nefesh16Literally, “soul redemption.” with the money that we give them, so that the judgment regarding us, our children and our families will be sweetened by the pidyon nefesh that these people will perform on our behalf.
וְאַתָּה תִמָּלֵא רַחֲמִים עָלֵינוּ, וְתִרְפָּאֵנוּ רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה, רְפוּאַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וּרְפוּאַת הַגּוּף.
Be filled with compassion for us. Heal us completely — a healing of the soul and a healing of the body.
רְפָאֵנוּ יְהֹוָה וְנֵרָפֵא הוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְנִוָּשֵׁעָה כִּי תְהִלָּתֵנוּ אָתָּה. וְהַעֲלֵה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה לְכָל מַכּוֹתֵינוּ וּלְכָל מַכְאוֹבֵינוּ וּלְכָל תַּחֲלוּאֵינוּ (וּבִפְרָט לְהַחוֹלֶה פְּלוֹנִי בֶּן פְּלוֹנִית), כִּי אֵל רוֹפֵא נֶאֱמָן וְרַחֲמָן אָתָּה,
Heal us, HaShem, and we will be healed, save us and we will be saved, for You are our praise. Bring complete healing to all of our wounds, pains and diseases (and in particular to the sick person, [Hebrew name], the son/daughter of [mother’s Hebrew name]), for You are a faithful and compassionate God, King and Healer.
כִּי אֵין לָנוּ שׁוּם סְמִיכָה עַל שׁוּם רְפוּאָה שֶׁל שׁוּם רוֹפֵא שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, כִּי אִם עָלֶיךָ לְבַד אָנוּ נִשְׁעָנִים.
We do not rely on any doctor’s remedy, but on You alone.
אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וּבַחֲסָדֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים, כִּי אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ גֹּדֶל הַצַּעַר וְהַמַּכְאוֹב שֶׁל כָּל הַסּוֹבְלֵי חוֹלָאִים וּמַכְאוֹבוֹת,
God, in Your vast compassion and great kindness, please heal us, for You alone know the great suffering and pain of all of those who experience disease and pain.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים. רַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וְאַל תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מֵהֶם, וְתִרְאֶה וְתַשְׁגִּיחַ בְּעָנְיָם וּמַכְאוֹבָם, וְתִמָּלֵא רַחֲמִים עֲלֵיהֶם לְהַחֲלִימָם וּלְרַפֹּאתָם לְהַחֲזִיקָם וּלְהַחֲיוֹתָם חִישׁ קַל מְהֵרָה,
You Who are filled with compassion, have compassion on them and do not hide Your face from them. Watch them and look after them in their suffering and pain. Compassionately heal them, strengthen them and revive them, swiftly and easily.
וִיקֻיַּם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְהֵסִיר יְהֹוָה מִמְּךָ כָּל חֹלִי, וְכָל מַדְוֵי מִצְרַיִם הָרָעִים אֲשֶׁר יָדַעְתָּ לֹא יְשִׂימָם בָּךְ, וּנְתָנָם בְּכָל שֹׂנְאֶיךָ.
May the verse be realized, “HaShem will remove from you every disease, and all the evil illnesses of Egypt that you knew, He will not place upon you; He will place them upon all your enemies.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֶת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, וּבֵרַךְ אֶת לַחְמְךָ וְאֶת מֵימֶךָ, וַהֲסִירוֹתִי מַחֲלָה מִקִּרְבֶּךָ.
And the verse states, “You will serve HaShem your God and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will remove disease from your midst.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, וַיֹּאמֶר אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע לְקוֹל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו תַּעֲשֶׂה, וְהַאֲזַנְתָּ לְמִצְוֹתָיו וְשָׁמַרְתָּ כָּל חֻקָּיו, כָּל הַמַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם לֹא אָשִׂים עָלֶיךָ, כִּי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה רֹפְאֶךָ. אָמֵן כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן:
And the verse states, “And He said, ‘If you listen to the voice of HaShem your God and do that which is straight in His eyes, and listen to His commandments and guard all His laws, all the diseases that I placed in Egypt I will not place upon you, for I am HaShem your Healer.’” Amen. So may it be His will.