Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on July 11, 2020

Gershon Weissman, Special to Ventura County Star Published 10:00 a.m. PT July 11, 2020

Many of us, citizens of the world, arenowhaving serious challenges and difficulties that cause us fear and anxiety. We are experiencing a trying situation.

Many are feeling that our strength, our hopefulness, our resilience is being put to the test.

Rabbi Gershon Weissman(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

During dark days when we feel at a loss, when we feel we have too few resources to turn to,I turn to prayer not just any prayer, but a special prayer that takes my trembling heart and troubled mind to an exalted place before the Almighty, our loving Father, Master of the Universe.

This is the prayer I say, and it's from the Breslov Hasidic tradition from a few generations back, from a different place, from a different time, but nevertheless it helps me today. It is to be said in times of hidden and revealed goodness.

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King of Kings, Master of the Universe,

Thank you! Thank you that I am standing here and thanking you! Thank you for the infinite times that you have helped me, supported me, rescued me, encouraged me, healed me, guarded over me and made me happy.

Thank you for always being with me.

Thank you for giving me the strength to observe your commandments, to do good deeds and pray. Thank you for everything! Thank you for all the times you helped me when I didnt know how to say thank you.

Thank you for all the loving kindnesses you do for me each and every moment. Thank you for every breath I breathe.

Thank you, O Lord, for all the things that I do have, and thank you O Lord, even for all the things I dont have.

Thank you for my periodic difficulties, my occasional setbacksand for the times when I dont feel happy, because everything is for my ultimate benefit.Even if I dont see that its always for my best, deep in my heart, I know that everything that comes from you is the very best for me and designed especially for me in precision and exacting Divine Providence, of which only the King of Kings is capable.

Thank you for my difficulties, for only through them I know how to appreciate the good. Only after being in darkness can one appreciate the light.

Thank you for the wonderful life you have given me. Thank you for every little thing I have, for everything comes from you and from no one else. Thank you for always listening to my prayers.

Creator Of The World, I apologize from the bottom of my heart for all the times that I didnt appreciate what you gave me and instead of thanking you, I only complained.

I am dust and ashes, and you are the entire universe. Please never cast me away.

Amen.

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But let me add my personal message to the prayer above: This is not just about us individually.

When we feel empty, spent, sorry for our plight, we can still reach out and extend our heart to anothers cry for help, and offer at least a smile, a kind thought, showing our empathy and understanding.

We can realize we are not alone in our plight. We can feel anothers pain too. We cry out: Please Lord, help me together with all others who are suffering, and let us see your light and feel your love.

We still have it within our hearts to make a miracle happen. Our prayers can become a hopeful promise fulfilledfor all. Amen again.

GershonWeissman is a member of the Conejo Valley Interfaith Association, which meets monthly and welcomes clergy and representatives of all religious faiths. He served as a rabbi for 32 years in the Conejo Valley, Simi Valleyand San Fernando Valleys before retiring. He can be reached at GershonWeissman@gmail.com.

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Interfaith: In dark times, a prayer of thanks - Ventura County Star

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