You are here because you were blessed or encountered this symbol
Whoever shares or displays this symbol is committed to Loving-kindness, compassion, friendship, and charity, they will bless and pray for you.
You have been granted the absolute, unconditional opportunity to be blessed AND the absolute, unconditional power to give blessings
You are blessed because you were born and because you are alive. By virtue of your presence in the Universe, you have been granted the absolute, unconditional opportunity to be blessed AND the absolute, unconditional power to give blessings. This power can extend to everyone you know and anyone you meet during this sacred journey we call life. There are no requirements or qualifications other than the desire to give… to connect… to appreciate the power that comes with being alive in a thoughtful,mindful way!!!
Explore this site, get a blessing, give a blessing, and be part of the movement. Together, we can increase humanity in the world one blessing at a time.
When you return to this site, look for 3/10, which will indicate new content as of that date.
Note: Both ancient and contemporary Jewish sources have been used to compile this guide for giving and receiving blessings and prayers. When the word “Torah” is used, it refers to the entire body of Jewish literature, the Old Testament, the Talmud, The prophets, and various other commentary works (See hyperlink “Torah” above or click here for an alternative definition
Who needs a blessing?
In short, everyone. The King of England, Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey and Albert Einstein all have something in their life that all have/had something in their life that pains/pained them. Wealth, fame, and intelligence do not shield anyone from a “Pain Point.” Everyone has a “Pain Point.” What is a Pain Point? It’s that one thing that would make a huge difference in your life if it was resolved or improved. Nobody gets a free ride. There are reasons why we all need to suffer, which is ultimately for our own good. However, this topic is beyond the scope of this subject.
Generally, there are three main areas in life from which people suffer: Health,Wealth(financial), and Family. Most people are blessed with one or two of the three; few people attain all three for very long. The Torah says three people are considered “dead”: one who is blind (health); one who is destitute (wealth); and one who is childless (family). What does the Torah mean by “dead”? A person’s higher purpose is to be a giver; two of the three afflictions — blindness and poverty — impede their ability to give, because they themselves are in need; they are receivers of other people’s benevolence.
A childless person certainly can be a benevolent person. However, a parent is a giving machine, constantly becoming less consumed with self and more consumed with raising a child and attending to their needs. We know that to serve G-D, we need to be humble. Child rearing is a humbling experience that makes us better servants of G-Dand trains us to be humble givers. To not attain your higher purpose (which is what life is all about), the Torah says, is like being dead.
Blessing someone is a way to be a giver on a very deep and meaningful level. Coming from your heart and soul, connecting to G-D, beseeching Him for the benefit of a friend; you don’t need Health, Wealth, or Family. A person can bless even if he is blind, impoverished, or childless. All they need is a loving, giving kind heart.
"…Money and fame does not shield anyone from a 'pain point' Everyone has a pain point. Nobody gets a free ride."
"Words have power. You can change someone’s life with an encouraging word. All the more so with blessings and prayers."
Bless me, and I will Bless you
Anyone can pray for anyone, and anyone can bless anyone. Kohanim have been given a unique power to bless. However, the power of blessing resides in everyone’s heart. Praying for someone is an act of kindness and can even be considered an act of charity, as every act of kindness is also an act of charity. What is needed is a kind, loving heart, compassion, empathy, and the ability to feel someone’s pain.
Thoughts can also Affect People
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov said over two hundred years ago that your thoughts can affect people LikuteiTefilot, Volume I 79:1.
See Dr Masaru Emoto 1988 eye popping scientific experiment onhow thoughts can affect the molecular structure of water entitled “Human Consciousness and Water” Consideringpeople are 60-70% water, draw your own conclusion.
Hear from an atheist near-death experience.
In her “Life Review” she speaks about how your thoughts affect people.
This is How it Works – Offer to Bless Someone
Next time someone shares a life struggle with you, or if you want to connect with a friend or acquaintance on a deep level, offer to bless themto help resolve their hardship. Ask what their “Pain Point” is, then compose a heartfelt blessing that addresses their pain point and, simultaneously, bless them for good health, a good livelihood, peace in their family, and anything else they may need. Include all the goodness you want for your friend with sincerity and love. Men should bless men, and women should bless women, as the energy of the opposite sex can interfere with the desired intention to bless. This does not apply to close relatives like a mother, grandmother, or sister. Jews pray for others using their Hebrew name, followed by their mother’s Hebrew name. e.g., Yaakov ben (son of) Esther or Sarah bas (daughter of) Hannah. If they don’t have a Hebrew name, use the English name. Some people like to put one or two hands on the head of the one to beblessed, and others shake hands with the blesser grasping the right forearm of the one to be blessed.
Touching is not necessary at all but helps make energetic connections. It’s better to use the handshake method in a public space as it does not draw attention.It’s also a good idea to wash your hands ritually (netilasyadayim -instruction) before you bless someone.There areno rules about how to give a blessing; it must be positive and heartfelt. Once you are done, take a moment to hold the space, then ask them to give you a blessing, as you don’t want them to feel indebted to you. Your connection to the one you blessed and his connection to you has transcended. This brings an immediate closeness, something you won’t experience chatting at a cocktail party. Everyone with their own personality will develop their open methodology; this is only meant as a guide and inspiration. If you are so moved, you can take this to another level, write down the person’s name, and pray for them on your own. Everyone can give a blessing.Try this with at least three people and ask the one you blessed to do the same. Give them this website (www/beblessed.com)so they can review the instructions.
"Great friendships have been formed from this, and you, as the blesser, have and will continue to be transformed into a more loving, kind, and sensitive person."
Supercharging a Blessing/Prayer For both the giver and receiver
This isn’t for everyone, but you should know that it is available as an add-on blessing upgrade. At your discretion, ask the one you are blessing if he wants to supercharge the blessing. Below are the three components to share with the blessing recipient, which are also good for the blessing giver.
Teshuva – If you know you are not conducting yourself appropriately in an area of life or have a negative character quality you have put off dealing with, now is the time to commit to stopping or at least working on it. Second, Tefillah pray for yourself to overcome that shortcoming as part of your prayer regiment. Finally, Tzedakah, in your mind, commit to giving a certain amount of money to a specific charity of your choice in a specific amount of time in the merit of your success in overcoming your shortcomings.
Finally, be sure to tell the one you are blessing that the blessing comes from the Creator; me as the blesser just serves as a conduit. “I am just asking for you; you can do the same thing.”
Why Should I Put Myself Out To Bless Anyone?
You should push outside your comfort zone and bless people for many reasons. It may feel uncomfortable and odd initially, but it’s like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets. In my years of field testing, nobody has ever turned down an offer to receive a blessing. Here are some of the benefits.
(1) You fulfill the biblical commandment “…love Your Neighbor as yourself…” Leviticus 19:34, Leviticus 19:18. Naturally, when you bless people with wealth, health, and peace in the family, among other things, these are all things you would want for yourself, too.
(2) In Genesis 12:1-3 “I will bless those who bless you…” See the Lubavitch Rebbe receive a blessing and give one back ….and curse those who curse you” (see minister in Turkey rrop dead after cursing the Jewish People)
(3) When you ask for a blessing in return, so they don’t feel indebted to you, you will likely get blessed with a lot of good, something you would not have received if you did not bless someone in the first place.
(4) You are emulating the creator’s ways of wanting good for his children
(5) When you bless someone, you become a blesser. If you do it enough with sincerity and love, you will change and evolve into a kinder, loving, compassionate lover of people.
(6) People and opportunities gravitate towards people who exhibit the qualities of a serial blesser. The Law of Attraction through the Wisdom of Rabbi Nachman – Gedale Fenster.
Pray for someone else, and your prayers for yourself will be answered first
There is a Jewish tradition, with supporting Biblical references, that if you pray for someone who shares your struggles, your prayers get answered first. Nobody knows the pain of being childless more than someone who is childless. This goes for someone facing a severe illness, financial struggle, difficulty finding a mate, or any other challenge a person is going through. The Sefer (Torah book) Chassidim (paragraph 553) says something frightening. Some prayers are not answered, and some prayers are answered. Those who pray for themselves are just thinking of themselves; those who pray and carry the burden of others pray in the plural. Those are prayers that can be answered. Therefore, when asking for a livelihood, good health, spouses for your children, and peace in your family, always have someone else’s pain in mind.
The tradition has a source in the Torah, the Chumash (five books of Moses), and the Talmud (the Oral Law). *
from Heaven on behalf of another, and he requires compassion from Heaven concerning that same matter, he is answered first? Rabba bar Mari said to him that the source for this is as it is written: “And the Lord changed the fortune of Job when he prayed for his friends” (Job 42:10). Rava said to him: You said the proof from there, from a verse in the Writings, and I say the evidence from here, from a verse in the Torah. As it is written: “And Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants, and they bore children” (Genesis 20:17), and it is written immediately following that: “And the Lord remembered Sarah, as He had said” (Genesis 21:1), with the pronoun interpreted homiletically: As Abraham said about Abimelech. Because Abraham prayed for Abimelech that the women of his household should give birth, Abraham himself was answered concerning that matter.
The tradition has a source in the Torah, the Chumash (five books of Moses), and the Talmud (the Oral Law). *
The idea is that nobody understands the pain of a particular lack than someone who is also experiencing the same lack. You can click here to see a list of people who have requested blessings in a particular area. Match yourself up to someone who shares your “Pain Point”.
The tradition has a source in the Torah, the Chumash (five books of Moses), and the Talmud (the Oral Law). *
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
“If you need a blessing or want to pray for someone who shares your challenge, click here
(or scroll down to form).”
The Power to Bless on a Birthday and other Milestone Events
Some believe that on your Hebrew (lunar Calendar) birthday (Hebrew Calendar-Convert your English Birthday to Hebrew date), a person has a unique power to bless. This stems from the Kabbalistic teaching that each year, on the day a person is born, they have mystical benefits and powers of “ascending fortune.” The idea is that stars and constellations are aligned exactly the same way on your birthday as the day you were born. It’s a time to celebrate the unique influence that G-D empowered the stars to have influenced your particular powers and uniqueness, and your mission in the world.
In some communities, asking those celebrating a birthday for a blessing is a practice. In the book of Genesis 27 when Yaakov tricks Isaac into giving him the blessing that was intended for Eisav, this event took place on Isaacs’s birthday. Isaac knew a “Tzadik” (righteous person) dies on their birthday. (The Talmud teaches that Moses passed away on the 7th day of the Jewish month of Adar, which was his 120th birthday. The Talmud explains that G-D calculates and completes the lifespan a righteous person, as we read in Exodus (23:26), “I will complete the number of your days.”) Because it was his birthday and Isaac thought he might die, he arranged to bless his sons. Isaac was also trepidatious approaching his birthday as he reached an age which was within five years of his mother’s death, who died at the age of 127. The great commentator Rashi says a person should be especially introspective when he is within 5 years of his parent’s death.
In some communities, asking those celebrating a birthday for a blessing is a practice. In the book of Genesis 27 when Yaakov tricks Isaac into giving him the blessing that was intended for Eisav, this event took place on Isaacs’s birthday. Isaac knew a “Tzadik” (righteous person) dies on their birthday. (The Talmud teaches that Moses passed away on the 7th day of the Jewish month of Adar, which was his 120th birthday. The Talmud explains that G-D calculates and completes the lifespan a righteous person, as we read in Exodus (23:26), “I will complete the number of your days.”) Because it was his birthday and Isaac thought he might die, he arranged to bless his sons. Isaac was also trepidatious approaching his birthday as he reached an age which was within five years of his mother’s death, who died at the age of 127. The great commentator Rashi says a person should be especially introspective when he is within 5 years of his parent’s death.
Other life milestones where the main participants are also imbued with a special power to bless A groom and a bride, on their wedding day, are often given names to pray for under the chuppah. The father of a son having a Bris, along with the Mohel and the Sandek, traditionally gives blessings. The bride and the groom, and these three participants in a Bris, are considered very pure as their sins are forgiven. Also, G-d rests His Presence on joyful people; these are all joyful events. Someone publicly embarrassed or humiliated also has a special power to bless. The time to get the blessing is right after the embarrassment or humiliation. The Creator has a special love and compassion for those who are embarrassed publicly, especially if they don’t answer. See Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro tell the Story.
You do not need to be a Kohen or a Levito bless. It does not need to be your birthday, wedding day, to participate in a bris or be humiliated publicly without answering to give a blessing. Anyone can give a blessing at any time. The only requirements are a clean, open, loving heart and a sincere desire to ask the Creator to accept your blessing for your friend.
You do not need to be a Kohen or a Levito bless. It does not need to be your birthday, wedding day, to participate in a bris or be humiliated publicly without answering to give a blessing. Anyone can give a blessing at any time. The only requirements are a clean, open, loving heart and a sincere desire to ask the Creator to accept your blessing for your friend.
About the symbol and who we are
This symbol is a reminder of the power of blessings and prayers. It represents charity, kindness, compassion, friendship, and love. Individuals and institutions that display this symbol send the world a message that they have an open heart, love to share, and are willing to listen to your struggles, bless you and pray for you.
The wings represent the angelic quality of being good and doing good. The white recessed hands of the Kohen Priests represent the power of a blessing.
This initiative was launched by a Kohanim family that strives to embody these values through prayer, philanthropy, humanitarian initiatives, Jewish education, and acts of kindness that significantly impact individuals and communities. We aim to incorporate the idea “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Most importantly, we can be that change by creating a deep human connection one blessing at a time. Everyone has different life experiences, skills, talents, resources, and abilities to facilitate that change. You have made a dentin the cosmos if you uplift someone, even if it’s temporary. If all of us make a dent, we can have a huge impact on humanity. Blessing and praying for others are a way to make an immediate deep connection and meaningful impact on yourself and others. Random acts of kindness for other people are also very powerful and ultimately is what we were created for.
There are endless ways to extend acts of kindness to others. We are designed to be givers. When you give, you become a giver. Because this is your purpose as a human being, you become more connected to your higher self, which brings a person joy. People are constantly reaching out for human connections. We long for and need this connection. Sometimes, it’s a ritualistic greeting, a comment about the weather, or a remark about something you are wearing. Other times it’s “small talk”. We have become disconnected and desensitized to this longing both in ourselves and with others. We exchange greetings robotically and really don’t show a genuine interest in someone else’s life or challenges. You can change all of that in a moment and show a genuine interest in someone else’s life or challenges.
The Hands of the Kohanim
The hands of the Kohen Priest held great significance in ancient Jewish culture and religion. They were believed to be vessels for transmitting a unique divine energy or blessing, and the laying on of hands by the Kohen Priest was considered a powerful act of spiritual transfer.
During the Temple period, the Kohen Priest used his hands to perform various rituals and ceremonies, including offering sacrifices and ordaining new priests. By placing his hands on the head of the animal or the new priest, he was believed to impart a special blessing and transfer holiness and authority.
The hands of the Kohen Priest were seen as symbols of the Divine Presence and a conduit for spiritual energy. This idea is reflected in the Priestly Blessing, where the Kohen Priest raises his hands in a specific gesture to bless the congregation. The gesture of the hands is believed to symbolize the transmission of divine energy and blessings from G-d to the people.
In Jewish tradition, the significance of the hands of the Kohen Priest continues to be recognized today. The Priestly Blessing is still recited in some Jewish communities, and the hands of the Kohen Priest are used to bless the congregation. This practice serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual connection and the transmission of blessings through the hands of the priesthood.
What is Brachot Kohnim
From the Torah (Numbers 6:23), “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: This is how you shall bless the children of Israel:
‘May the Lord bless you and watch over you. May the Lord cause His countenance to shine to you and favor you. May the Lord raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace.’ They shall bestow My Name upon the children of Israel so that I will bless them.”
Hear him describe it in his own words via the link.
Leonard Nimoy the Star Trek series.
Leonard Nimoy was an American actor, director, and writer best known for his iconic role as Mr. Spock in the original Star Trek television series and films. However, he was also profoundly interested in his Jewish heritage and spirituality and explored these topics in various ways.
Nimoy was born to Orthodox Jewish parents in Boston in 1931, and he grew up in an environment steeped in Jewish tradition and culture. He later described his childhood as “very Jewish,” and he learned to speak Yiddish as a child.
One of Nimoy’s most significant contributions to American culture was his creation of the “Vulcan Salute,” which he used as Mr. Spock. The hand gesture, which involves splitting the fingers into a V-shape, was inspired by a Jewish blessing Nimoy had observed in his childhood synagogue. The gesture is now widely recognized as a symbol of the Jewish concept of “live long and prosper,” which Nimoy incorporated into the Star Trek Series
The priestly blessing is recited in the Synagogue. The Kohanim cover their heads and raise their hands under the prayer shawl as they should not be seen.
Click the image to hear and see the Prayer being performed The largest gathering of Kohanim giving the blessing occurs at the Western Wall three times a year during the pilgrimage holidays of Passover, Sukkot, and Shavuot.
Give a Blessing, Get a Blessing – pray for me and I will pray for you
Everyone needs a blessing; what about you? Visitors to this site will have the opportunity to pray for you. Fill in the form if you would like your name posted for others to pray for you. You also have the opportunity to pray for others who are suffering, including the captives held in Gaza. (See: Bring Them Home Now)
Fillable Form that will auto-populate into the list of those that need blessings below
Hebrew Name? Enter your English name if you don’t have one.
Your mother’s Hebrew name/ English if you don’t know it or don’t have one
Choose a category. If you require something else, choose “other” and enter what you need. The nature of your prayer request
NOTE:
Category of Prayers
Heath and Healing
Wealth (Finances/livelyhood)
Family
- Finding a spouse
- Difficulty in childre
- Peace in the house
other
Pray for someone who shares your “PainPoint”
Below is a list of people who need blessings in specific areas of life. Pray for someone who shares your need, and your prayers will be answered first
Category of Prayers
Heath and Healing
- Healing to all the soldiers protecting Israel, and all people everywhere that need healing
- Avigile Bracha bas Rivka (spinal bifida)
- Mina Yehudit bat Mesudi (cancer)
- Yachiel Nasson Ben Sara (to stay in remission)
- Avraham Tzvi ben Rivkah Malka (Non-cancerous brain tumors)
- Sarah Miriam bas Leah Chayah Tziporah (Cancer)
- Moshe Zev Ben Chyaperl – (Depleted from Covid)
- Yakov Yonatan David ben Devora (recovering from a stoke)
- Yael Hana bas Sara (Illness)
- Leah Leorah Shayna bas chana Henya (Limes Disease)
- Nathan Ben Rachel (Car crash/head trauma/brain damage)
- Yoel ben Reisel Rachel (That his transplanted lung should not be rejected)
- Pesach Moshe ben Hinda Bracha That his transplanted kidney should not be rejected)
- Chaya Yael Shoshanna Bat Hannah Frieda (Young Child, very serious)
Pray so they will have Children
- Rivka Ruchama bas Devora Miriam
- Yehuda Raphael Ben Chana
- Amram Ben Rachel Merel
- Leah Rivka bas Chaya
- Moshe Reuven ben Reichel –Legal Battle
Wealth and Livelihood
- Daniel Ben Edom – Mazal/Bracha closing transaction that will significantly benefit the Jewish people.
- Reuven ben Chaim
- YizhakBen Zvi ha Levi
Family
Pray for a Marriage Partner / Shidduchim
- Shanna Bracha bas Rochel Chaiya
- Shmuel Yisrael Ben Masha Basha 30
- Golda Sara bas Shira Malka
- Shifra bas Leah
- Shimon ben Ziporah 26
- Shmuel Yisrael Ben Masha Basha 30
- Shaina Bracha bas Rochel Chaya
- Yosef Haim Ben Esther
- Yisrael Meir Ben Esther
- Abraham Nachman Ben Esther
Pray for Divine protection for all the soldiers of Israel and that they doTeshuvah
Mendel Ben Ciona
Binyamin Shlomo Yitzchak Ben Rivka Aviva (solider)Yonatan Ben Enav (Soldier)
Yaakov Ben Tovah (Soldier) Idan ben Mari (soldier)
Mendel ben Ciona (soldier)
Bring them Home Now
Pray for all those held captive and injured, the families whose husbands and fathers are fighting in Gaza on the
Lebanese border, the families of the captives, and those who have lost family members.
Please Pray for the Hostages being held in Gaza. Know and feel who you are praying for.
Once you feel for them, then pray for their immediate release, their physical and mental welfare.
Clicking through the “Kidnapped” posters below and watching the video will move you and prepare you to bless the
Hostages, their families, those who are injured and those who have passed.
This is who they are:
The Power of Prayer, a true story of prayer
Reprinted with permission from Project Heritage of Greater Miami 0n January 12, 2004
Rabbi Moshe Gruenstein
Tefillah (prayer) is called avodah (service/work) because that’s precisely what it is – an avodah. It’s extremely hard work, because as much as it is the oxygen of a Yid (Jew), it must be said with kavana(feeling and concentration) like a child talking to his father. This is not necessarily easy because our minds constantly wander and tefillah (Prayer) demands that we be cognizant that we are talking to the Borei Olam (Creator of the World)– the hakolyachol– for he can do it all. Prayer is truly the most potent force in the universe, and we must believe that with tefillah there is nothing we can’t accomplish.
Let me share with you an incredible story about the awesome power of tefillah that is brought in one of
Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein’sseforim(Upiryo Masuk, ParshasVa’eira, page 110). Rav Zilberstein is one
of the great poskimin Eretz Yisrael. He also happens to specialize in medical issues and frequently gives
shiurim (lectures) to doctors at some of the major hospitals in Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel). Says Rav Zilberstein, “After one of my lectures to a group of doctors, I noticed from the corner of my eye that one doctor was standing to the side, waiting as all the other physicians were leaving the room. Once the others left, I turned to this doctor and said, ‘Yes, doctor, is there something you’d like to ask me?’ The doctor was holding a small bag, and he appeared to be very emotional. He came closer and began taking something from the bag, but he was still too emotional to talk. He showed me a siddur like those that are given to small children when they first learn to daven. I asked him, ‘Why is this siddur the cause of such emotion?’ By this time, the doctor had found his voice and said, ‘My wife and I were married some 15 years ago. After several years, we were still unsuccessful in children. The specialists we were seeing finally told us that it was not going to happen and that we should consider adoption. So, six years ago, we adopted a beautiful baby boy. This year, he went into first grade and the yeshiva made a whole production out of giving the children their first siddur. The day they gave out that siddur, my son came home unusually happy, with a perpetual smile on his face. So, I asked him, ‘Tzaddikel, why are we so happy today?’ He said, ‘What do you mean, abba? We got our siddur today.’ ‘Ok, that’s beautiful, but why is that so amazing?’ And my tzaddik of a son looks at me as if I’m from Mars, and he says, ‘What do you mean, abba? Now I can daven to Hashem that I should have a brother!’ ‘My heart just melted,’ said the doctor. ‘I was so touched by his pure heart. But, of course, he didn’t know that it was not possible.’ And then, the doctor broke down and could barely get the words out. ‘Rav Zilberstein,’ he said, ‘my son received that siddur nine months ago, and this morning, we celebrated the bris of our newborn son.’”
As I write this story, I, too, can barely get the words out. Here, you see firsthand what sincere tefillah can do.
A child knows no chochmas. He believes in a Borei Olam and that there is no other power but Him.
His sweet, pure heart turns to Hashem and, right then and there, you see the fulfillment of what the Chazon Ish said. I don’t know of any problem in the world that can’t be solved with tefillah. Our issue is that wedon’t have a child’s emunahpeshuta. We believe and we don’t believe. We say to ourselves, “Come on,I’m not a tzaddik. Is Hashem really going to answer me after all the aveirosthat I’ve done?” yada, yada.My friends, this is the voice of the yetzer hara. It’s the Satan himself talking to you because that’s not howit works. Hashem is our father. He is a tata who is overflowing with rachmanus, and you don’t have to beworthy. You’re his child. You just have to ask sincerely and it’s yours.Sometimes, people erroneously feel that because of the difficulties – the tzaros– that they are experiencing,Hashem is not happy with them, and they lose hope. Again, that’s the voice of the Satan. If anything, it’spumfakert– just the opposite. Because you are a shtickle broken; because you have tzaros, your heartis contrite and is humbled, and therefore, Hakadosh Baruch Hu is much closer to you than most people.Contrary to popular belief, the more broken you are, the more the Shechinahis with you.
Be Someone’s Angel
Blessing and prayers are certainly not the only way to raise the level of Humanity and connect on a deeper level with people. Just like blessings and prayers, you don’t need money to “Be someone’s Angel”. Each of us is born with unique talents and insights. The acts of kindness we can do are unlimited. Just giving a call to a lonely person or spending 5 to 10 minutes listening to someone’s life challenges can be a game changer.
A scholarly discourse by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein on the following topics of Asking Someone to
Pray for you and Praying For Someone Without Being Asked.
Asking someone to pray for you
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein writes that even according to those who forbid prayers to angels as intermediaries in any circumstance, utilizing human intermediaries is permitted. This is true for prophets, as clear from
אך איכא מחלוקת רבותינו הראשונים לבקש מהם שהם בשליחותם יעשו באופן היותר טוב לפנינו, דיש אוסרין גם זה. אבל לבקש אדם .כשהוא בחיים להתפלל ולברך, הוא דבר ראוי והנכון.
Later in the piece, he writes that utilizing dead people as intermediaries is more complicated.
(1) אך לאדם שמת, שכבר לא שייך שהוא יתפלל, אלא שנשמתו שהיא בגנזי מרומים שייך שתתפלל עבור אלו החיים, שלאלו דסובריםדלמלאכים אסור יש לעיין אם גם לבנ”א שמתו אסור
Whether or not R. Moshe’s arguments are compelling, there is a powerful precedent for his conclusion. In a letter to his brother-in-law
(2), Rabbenu Avraham ben HaRambam writes:
Indeed, we are in great danger. I cannot relate to you [even] the fewest details, for I can imagine your great consternation upon hearing them. Thus, have I seen fit to omit them or mention them to you. May our master not leave off praying for us “since a captive cannot free himself” (Berakhot 5b). (Trans. Paul Fenton).
We see that Rabbenu Avraham himself requested that his brother-in-law pray for him. Thus, he holds that asking a human being to intercede on one’s behalf is permitted.
Praying for someone without being asked
While it is hard to prove a negative, and therefore difficult to demonstrate that there is no problem, I am unaware of any reason why it would be a problem and aware of several reasons and counterexamples that suggest that this act of kindness is delicate.
We find many places in the Bible where people pray for others without being requested. For example, Abraham prays for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-32). Similarly, Moses prays for Miriam (Exodus 12:13) (3). Additionally, Moses prays on Israel’s behalf without mentioning such a request (Exodus 32:30-2).
(1) It should be noted that it is possible that others could conceivably disagree with some of his proofs. For example, in the episode in Kings (v. 28; the cited verse seems to be a misprint), the Shunamite woman never explicitly asks Elisha to intercede with G-d. Instead, she merely says:
‘Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say: Do not deceive me?’ (Trans. Mechon Mamre).
(2) Paul Fenton’s A Judeo-Arabic Commentary on the Haftaroth by Hanan’el ben Semu’el (?), Abraham Maimonides’ Father-in-Law Appendix 1, p. 52 in Maimonidean Studies (ed. Arthur Hyman) vol. 1. New York, 1990.
(3) Although it could be argued that (12:11) was a request for prayer by Aaron for himself and Miriam, a) Miriam herself didn’t ask him, and b) it appears that Aaron was asking for forgiveness, not prayer. (cf. Rosh Moed Katan 3:7).
Prayer of Thanks
Whoever recites this prayer turns severe judgments into mercy and merits outright miracles from the Creator
Thank You Hashem, Kings of Kings and Master of the World!
Thank You for the infinite times that You helped me, supported me, rescued me, encouraged me, cured me, guarded 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 all the times You helped me and i didn’t know how to say, “thank You”.
Thank You for all the lovingkindnessYou do for me each and every moment. Thank You for every breath that I breathe.
Thank YouHashem for all the things I do have and thank You for even the things that I don’t have.
Thank You for my periodic difficulties, my occasional setbacks, and for the times when I don’t feel happy, because everything is for my ultimate benefit, even if i don’t see that it’s 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 the periodic times that are difficult for me,
for only that way they enable me to fully appreciate the good times; for only after being in darkness one can appreciate the light.
Thank You for the wonderful life You have given me.
Thank You for every little thing that 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 didn’t appreciate what You gave me, and instead of thanking YouI only complained.
I am dust and ashes, and You are the entire universe. Please don’t ever cast me away!
Do Blessings and Prayers Get Answered?
To understand the sublime and esoteric in Biblical literature, and the nature of G-d and His relationship with us, we turn to the universally recognized giants in spiritual understanding. Click the hyperlinks to read a glimpse of their biography.
Reb Nosson of Breslov said “if you haven’t received what you want you either did not pray for it or you did not pray enough”. Rav Chaim Kanievsky, zt’lquotes his uncle, the
Chazon Ish, zt’l– whose koach tefillah (Power of Prayer) was legendary – as saying, “I don’t know of any problem in the world that can’t be solved with ten minutes of tefillah.” The Steipler Goan,Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, says “There is no such thing as a sincere prayer that goes unanswered. Any heartfelt request addressed to Hashem must be answered somehow and someday”.
No prayer is wasted; they accumulate and make a massive difference in the lives of other people we don’t know. It’s a Divine calculation that is beyond our perception. Although you, your friend, or your family member may not feel the effect of your prayers and blessings, they benefit someone. Rabbi Mordechai Shapiro zt’l understood from the responsive prayers in the Yom Kippur Neilah service that read “May it be Your will, You Who hears the sound of weeping that You please take our tears in Your flask to be…” meaning the prayers and tears do go somewhere. Not always, but occasionally, we glimpse a Divine curtain, to see the secret workings of the Creator. Rabbi Shapiro tells the story of a man who prayed diligently and sincerely for his friend Chaim ben Yosef who was deathly ill. Chaim ben Yosef passed away. Eleven years later, a different Chaim ben Yosef who was also ill at the time ended up marrying his daughter. Prayers and blessings are the spiritual connection between man and G-d.
Others say, all prayers are answered but sometimes, the answer to our prayers is “no”. We sometimes want something that is not good for us, it’s what we want but ultimately if we got it, it would diminish our spirituality. Sometimes, it is even more complex than that; there are challenges we must go through in life that are custom-made for us and are precisely what we need for our spiritual growth. These challenges can be emotionally and even physically painful, but they’re precisely what we need to achieve a tikkun for our souls. The blemishes we have in our soul is not always from our own doing but from a previous lifetime or a fragment of our soul we reincarnated from, and we have been sent back to earth to rectify or do a tikkun to repair on that blemish. Some things are hidden from us, and we will only fully understand them when we meet the Creator of the universe after our demise.
October 9, 1994, Nachshon Wachsman (click here for full story) was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists who made a ransom demand with a short deadline. The entire world was praying for his safe release, with colossal prayer gatherings everywhere. One could only imagine the gates of Heaven being besieged by all those heartfelt prayers. All eyes of the world were on the house in Israel that was identified as the place where Nachshon was being held. The incident ended in a failed Israeli rescue attempt, during which Wachsman, three of his captors, and an Israeli officer were killed.
Sometimes, the answer to our prayer is “No.”
In an act of unfathomable faith, at the request of Wachsman’s bereaved father, the rabbi told the crowd of mourners that G-D did listen to their prayers and that just as a father would always like to say “yes” to all his children’s requests, sometimes he must say “no”. However, the child might not understand why. “So, too, our Father in Heaven heard our prayers, and though we don’t understand why, His answer was ‘no.’
“Prayers and blessings are the spiritual connection. between man and God” ”
In an act of unfathomable faith, at the request of Wachsman’s bereaved father, the rabbi told the crowd of mourners that G-D did listen to their prayers and that just as a father would always like to say “yes” to all his children’s requests, sometimes he must say “no”. However, the child might not understand why. “So, too, our Father in Heaven heard our prayers, and though we don’t understand why, His answer was ‘no.’
A scholarly discourse by Rabbi Moshe Feinsteinon the following topics of Asking Someone to
Pray for you and Praying For Someone Without Being Asked.
We All Want theSame Thing
We all want to love and to be loved, to feel a sense of value, to be appreciated, to be healthy, to feel secure and happy. We all want to grow spiritually and provide for our family’s needs. Like a child who will gravitate towards candy rather than steak and string beans, we as adults sometimes gravitate towards things, we think will bring us what we want but ultimately bring us despair, such as drugs, alcohol, and unhealthy relationships; even wealth, if mishandled can bring devastation.
Praying for the ultimate goal of what you want rather than the counterfeit illusion is important. Here is the exercise: “I want a lot of money.” “For what?” “To buy a fancy car.” “For what?” “So that people will respect me”. “Why do you want respect” “So I can feel better about myself.” Pray to feel better about yourself because you might get the counterfeit and experience unpleasant, unintended consequences.
Making a Prayer of What You Learned
This lesson provided Reb Nossonwith his major impetus for composing his book of prayers. LikuteyTefilot. This work contains over two hundred magnificent prayers on all topics and circumstances in life. Focusing on the concepts and advice in Rebbe Nachman’s lessons, Reb Noson wove them into prayers of great longing and holy desire. A two-volume work, the LikuteyTefilot is based almost entirely on the Likutey Moharan, with a few prayers centered on some of the Rebbe’s conversations in Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom.
Rebbe Nachman also teaches that it is very good when you can make prayers out of your studies. Whenever you hear or study the words of the Torah, make a prayer out of it!
As we’ve said, the idea is to take the Torah subjects we study and translate them into prayer, beseeching God to help us fulfill our learning to the fullest extent possible. For example, when learning about the sacrifices, though we cannot bring offerings into the Holy Temple today, we can still pray to
G-d that our studies be considered as if we had brought those sacrifices (cf. Menachot 110a). Furthermore, we can say: “G-d, just as I’ve studied these laws, let me fulfill them in the Holy Temple, speedily and in our time. Amen.”
When studying the laws pertaining to damages, we can pray that we may never be involved in an accident, neither as the cause nor as the victim (as in the Traveler’s Prayer, in which we ask that we come to no harm on the road). There are even ways to formulate prayers for those laws that might not seem applicable, as in the case of the happily married man who studies divorce laws. “G-d, help me so that I never have to get divorced. And, above all, let me never be divorced from You. Always let me come ever closer to You.”
Hitbodedut – Secluded Prayer Done in One's Own Language – Have a conversation with G-D about what you are going through.
Hitbodedut is very high, indeed a level above all levels (Likutey Moharan II, 25).
One of Rebbe Nachman’s significant teachings, perhaps his most important and best known, focuses on private, secluded prayer. This practice, known simply as hitbodedut, is the ultimate level in our relationship with God.
Likewise, hitbodedut is the tool to seek out and find our place: in the world at large, in our family, among friends and within the community, and, most importantly, within ourselves. It allows us to release all our inner feelings – the joys and depressions, the successes and frustrations that greet us each day.
Through hitbodedut, we examine ourselves and re-examine ourselves, correcting the flaws and errors of the past while seeking the proper path for the future. It cannot fail! Reb Noson wrote that Rebbe Nachman attained the level he did primarily through hitbodedut (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom: His Praises #10). However, it wasn’t only the Rebbe who rose to such great and lofty levels of spirituality because of hitbodedut. Rebbe Nachman himself said that all of the Tzaddikim could only attain the excellent levels they did because they practiced hitbodedut (Likutey Moharan II, 100).
Do your utmost to spend at least an hour in private prayer and meditation every day. Express yourself in your own words in the language you understand best. Talk about all the things you are going through. Admit your sins and transgressions, both intentional and unintentional. Speak to G-d the way you would to a close friend: tell Him what you’re going through – your pain, the various pressures you are under, your situation and that of others in your home, and also of the Jewish people as a whole. Talk about everything in full. Argue with G-d in whatever way you can.
Through hitbodedut, we examine ourselves and re-examine ourselves, correcting the flaws and errors of the past while seeking the proper path for the future.
Press Him, plead with Him to help you come closer to Him. Cry out, shout and groan, sigh and weep. Give thanks to G-d for all the love He has shown you in both spiritual and material matters. Sing to G-d and praise Him, and then ask for whatever you need, spiritually and materially. Have faith that the satisfaction G-d derives from such conversations with even the lowest of all people is more precious to Him than all other kinds of devotions, even those devotions of the angels in all the worlds.
Even if you can’t open your mouth at all, just the fact that you stand there putting your hope in G-d, lifting your eyes upwards, and forcing yourself to speak even if you say no more than a single word the entire time – all this endures forever (Likutey Moharan II, 95-101, etc.).
If you’ve been practicing hitbodedut for years and are convinced there’s been no improvement, continue doing it. Ultimately, you will reach your goal, as King David did. He cried every night and continued to do so until he was answered (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom #68).
“Though my enemies encamp against me… I rely on this. One thing I asked of God that shall I seek – that I dwell in the House of God….” (Psalms 27:3,4). The best protection against the forces of evil is prayer and the desire to serve God. King David knew this. Although many enemies surrounded him – forces that sought to destroy him – King David did not fear. He prayed to God to help him retain his faith and always come before Him: to “dwell in the House of God.” His great desire to serve God and his unfaltering faith in prayer was his strength and fortitude against his enemies (Likutey Halakhot, Netilat Yadayim li’Seudah 6:55).
Reb Noson also said: We find exceptional advice throughout the Rebbe’s teachings on how to serve God and draw closer to Him. But, sometimes, the advice itself is extremely difficult to follow. The only advice that consistently elevates us to all the significant levels we desire to reach and fulfill is hitbodedut (Likutey Moharan II, 101). (Taken from the book Crossing the Narrow Bridge: A Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman’s Teachings, chapter 9 – Hitbodedut)
The Distinction between Blessings and Prayers
Blessings and prayers serve as conduits for connecting with the Divine, expressing spirituality, and fostering a relationship with God. These practices, deeply rooted in ancient traditions and scriptures, carry profound significance across various religions, serving as avenues for gratitude, supplication, reflection, and praise. While some cultures and religions interchange the terms blessing and prayer or consider blessings a form of prayer, they indeed carry distinct meanings and purposes.
Exploring this topic from a Jewish perspective, blessings, known as “berakhot,” hold a pivotal role in Jewish spiritual life. Berakhot are structured expressions of gratitude, acknowledging God’s continuous kindness and presence in everyday life. Beginning with the phrase “Baruch Atah Adonai,” meaning “Blessed are You, Lord,” these blessings are recited before and after specific actions or events, such as consuming food, witnessing natural phenomena, or hearing good news. Each blessing serves as a reminder to pause, reflect, and express gratitude for the blessings the Creator bestows. For instance, the “Hamotzi” blessing recited before eating bread acknowledges God as the provider of sustenance. Berakhot not only symbolizes reverence but also infuse daily activities with mindfulness and appreciation for divine gifts
In contrast, prayers, referred to as “tefillot,” encompass a broader range of communication with God within Judaism. Tefillot include various forms of expression such as requests, praises, thanksgiving, and repentance. Central to Jewish prayer is the Siddur, a comprehensive prayer book containing formal liturgies for different occasions, including daily prayers, Sabbath and holiday services, and life cycle events. Filled with carefully crafted blessings and prayers articulating the collective aspirations and experiences of the Jewish people, Tefillot serves as a means to connect spiritually with the Divine. Whether recited individually or communally, prayers offer moments of introspection, solace, and transcendence, fostering a deep sense of spiritual fulfillment within the Jewish community.
While both blessings and prayers are integral to Jewish spiritual practice, they serve distinct purposes. Blessings elevate the mundane to the holy, channeling divine energy and expressing gratitude for God’s blessings. On the other hand, prayers serve as deliberate communication with God, seeking guidance, comfort, and transformation. While blessings do not create something new but rather infuse it with holiness, prayers have the potential to evoke change and alter destinies through divine grace.
In Jewish tradition, it is common practice to seek blessings from revered individuals, such as a Holiman or Tzadik, and ask for their blessings and prayers. The belief lies in these individuals’ connection with the Divine, which may lead to a more favorable response to their prayers.
The question arises: Why do we pray for someone’s recovery if everything is determined by God’s will? Prayer, particularly when offered with sincerity and concentration, has the power to change individuals and consequently alter the world’s circumstances, prompting God to judge the world anew, hopefully with a favorable outcome for the ill person. Thus, prayers are offered not to change God’s mind but to change ourselves and the world around us, leading to the possibility of a different outcome.
In conclusion, blessings and prayers intertwine to form a sacred bond between humanity and the Divine in Jewish religious life. While blessings serve as structured expressions of gratitude and acknowledgment, prayers encompass a broader spectrum of spiritual expression, offering avenues for communion, reflection, and transformation. Both practices are vital in nurturing faith, gratitude, and devotion within the Jewish community across generations.
Be part of the Movement!
Connect with strangers when you bless them. Ask them about their pain point. Everyone has a pain point. The immediate connection you can make when you bless someone is fantastic. It’s a deep personal connection that can last for a lifetime and can change someone’s life. Only order if you want to be an ambassador doing Hashem’s will.
We are taking pre-orders 45.00, $3.00 s/h. S/M/ L/XL/XXL
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Become an Ambassador
500 Business Cards Cost price $180. Order directly from vender, Isaac@zekels.com
Ordering any Items includes your commitment:
I understand that when I display “The Symbol” I am committed to Loving-kindness, compassion, friendship, and charity, and I will bless and pray for anyone who asks.
Yes, I agree.
As all items cost/shipping plus 10%, you can order directly from the vender.
Fill out form below: then email to Isaac@zekels.com or call him 646.402.4566.
Join our mission by action, contribution or both
Consider becoming a pillar of this mission by joining us as a partner. A $6000 contribution will make you aFounder. To the extent you want to be involved is up to you. It’s an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of what we hope will be a Movement that will transform humanity one blessing at a time. If you have thoughts or ideas on projects to help accomplish these goals, please let us know. Nobody is making money here, 100% of donations are going to promote these ideas. Our accounts are open for inspection. When you become a Founder, you can also direct how your money is spent.
Founders receive 2 founder shirts (below), 2 coffee mugs and 2” Ask me for a Blessing” shirts, 50 Wing pins, 500 business cards with the title Founder. Actually, you get whatever you want, after all you’re a founder.
Sponsorship Opportunities:
We would like to make these items available for free.
A free booklet which will be a written and enhanced form of this website
A printed VERSION of the Website
1000 Wing pins cost @ $1.00 = $1000
5000 pins cost@ .77 each = $3,850
(Note: we have not received a mockup of the pins yet. The actual pin will be The Symbol; this is just a placeholder until we get the mockup)
Consider the benefit of cobranding with us. Being connected to our brand by displaying the symbol says a lot about you and your business. As the symbol becomes widely recognized, your display of the symbol will communicate to those who see it that you identify with the values and ideas that the symbol represents.
We are open to collaborations,cobranding, ideas, initiatives, and partnerships to promote and instill these values. Info@beblessed.one.Visit this site often as our initiatives, projects, and grant offers constantly change. We have applied for a 501(c)3 charitable designation. Any donation received before our designation will be retroactively accepted as charity once approved. Contact us at: Info@beblessed.one
Or consider sponsoring 1000 or 5000 lapel pins
Once someone gives a blessing, they have earned their “wings”. The blesser will give the blessed a few wing pins to place on the lapel of the next one that they bless and receive a blessing from. The pins become a conversation piece which will lead to more blessings.
Pins are projected to Cost $1.00 each plus shipping. It’s a nice Idea that once you bless someone and they bless you back they have “earned their wings.” Give one wing pin to the one you blessed for himself and 3 more wing pins to give to the 3 people who he will bless. Once they bless him back, they have earned their wings. The pin itself is a conversation piece to bring up the idea of offering a blessing.
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In Memorial
Kalman Packouz, a friend who inculcated the values of this site. He actively searched for kindness to perform. He loved people and served as the Almighty’s ambassador. He was an angel on earth. The book about him is inspiring.
Thumbs Up! Hardcover – January 1, 2023
by Rabbi Shraga Simmons (Author), Shabbat Shalom Fax of Life (Author)
In Memory of
Basha Bas Benyamin Berel — Rosh Hodesh Adar II Lipka Ben Lieb HaKohen — Vav (6) Adar ITestimonials
“I always thought you needed to be a Kohen to bless someone. It’s very powerful to give blessings, I feel like I am giving from my heart and Soul. I love being a giver of blessings, thanks for empowering me ”
“To bless people was awkward at first but it’s worth it to break through…what an amazing thing to do for someone.”
“Like you said on your website, it really does make an awesome connection between people. The next time I see someone I blessed there is definitely a stronger connection.”
“I had a gathering of a few friends, and for kicks we all blessed each other. There is nothing better you can do with another person that is so strong and meaningful”
“The more I bless people, the easier it becomes. I find it to be a great icebreaker at a social event.”