Tefillah Art Project
Refaeinu
Refaeinu in English:
“Heal us, Hashem – then we will be healed; save us – then we will be saved, for You are our praise. Bring complete recovery for all our ailments, for You are G-d, King, the faithful and compassionate Healer. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who heals the sick of His people Israel.”
Refaeinu Meaning:
The eighth blessing of Shemoneh Esrei is Refaeinu, asking Hashem for health. A person can put in a prayer in the middle of this blessing for his own or another’s recovery.
Can a person mention the name of any sick person in Refaeinu? Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach said that a person should be close with the person or people he is praying for, and it is improper to pray for people who have little or no connection to you, during this blessing. Rav Shlomo Zalman would mention family members during the blessing of Refaeinu.
At times, a person is so sick that the doctors say there is no chance of survival. Some authorities write that upon reaching such a critical state, one is asking for an open miracle, and it is improper to pray for the patient. Even at such a critical state, however, people should have complete confidence that Hashem has the power to affect healing, as the Talmud says that even if a sharp sword rests upon one’s neck, one should never give up hope.