Beit Midrash

  • Shabbat and Holidays
  • The Jewish Months
To dedicate this lesson

The month of Iyar-"for I am the Lord, who heals you".

undefined

Rabbi Haggai Lundin

According to the Kabbalists, the month of Iyar is a special month for the healing of sicknesses, and this is hinted by the abbreviations איי"ר
"If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." Exodus 15:26

וַיֹּאמֶר אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע לְקוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו תַּעֲשֶׂה וְהַאֲזַנְתָּ לְמִצְו‍ֹתָיו וְשָׁמַרְתָּ כָּל חֻקָּיו כָּל הַמַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם לֹא אָשִׂים עָלֶיךָ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ.-שמות טו,כו
Particularly, the month of Iyar which falls precisely between Pesach and Shavuot, teaches us that healing is not a purely physical process but also requires a spiritual transcendence which manifests itself in the transition between the birth of Israel as a nation," the people of Israel"- עם ישראל(Pesach)and receiving the Torah (Shavuot).
Of all the hardships in our lives, it seems that physical distress can create the illusion that the key for healing lies purely in the earthly, physical domain. In the past few weeks, like the rest of the world, we have internalized a lesson in humility. The conclusion is that modern medicine with all its technological advancements can yet challenge us with a scenario that we have never encountered before, a situation which is an unprecedented phenomenon in the history of humanity, which we do not know how to cope with , and lastly, which is not curable yet. Although, by all means, we should not underestimate the advancements of modern medicine or human achievements, we should be open minded to something greater, to trust in G-D.
Those with a fine perception may notice that the Corona crisis, more than any other crisis in recent generations, carries with it solutions that are closely associated with the elevation of moral values and more so, moral transcendence. Global healing requires changing habits and patterns of thinking that are beyond the technical side - such as postponing our immediate needs and satisfactions, defining & setting up new priorities, and willingness to sacrifice for disadvantaged populations.
There is a great opportunity here for real healing to the world; Healing filled with faith and moral values.
Enclosed is a prayer which is customary to recite in the month of Iyar, in the name of the חִידָ"א; (Rabbi Yosef Chaim David Azulai זצ"ל).
Master of the universe, in your mercy give us strength and health and sufficient ability, strength and courage in our limbs and bodies to be watchful. And we will have no hidden maladies and no pain, and we will be joyous, good and healthy to worship you, and we will be saved from any evil, and you will lengthen our days with goodness and our years with pleasantness and fulfill our years with long life. And you will add years of life to worship you. And in the shade of your wings we will hide. And you will save us and all our households from all hard decrees and we will be calmed, fertilized and refreshed for your worship and worthy for your awe".

Amen
Evil will pass.
Good will prevail.
With the help of G-D
את המידע הדפסתי באמצעות אתר yeshiva.org.il