A Prayer for Difficult Times

By Rabbi Dov Gartenberg 

Composed on November 7, 2024.  

We turn to You with worry during these difficult times, for ourselves and for our world. Teach us to find a path of wisdom during this time of resentment and anger. In the face of the coming chaos, help us to distinguish between wisdom and tendentiousness. Give us the patience to listen to others and help us to restrain ourselves from thoughtless responses during strained conversations.  Move us to question what needs to be questioned and to answer with clarity what needs to be answered.  Help us to settle our intense emotions, to think and speak clearly and articulately. Inspire us to admit what we do not know. Guide us to acknowledge the truth even when it is painful to bear.   

Demand of us to act guided by wisdom, insight, and urgency. Open us to seeing and acting against cruelty and callousness. Help us to find worthy cause with others for the good. Bring us together in communities devoted to kindness, compassion, and just action.  Protect us from violence and despair.  Lift us with hope and renewal.  

Based on this text from Pirkei Avot 5:7

שִׁבְעָה דְבָרִים בַּגֹּלֶם וְשִׁבְעָה בֶחָכָם. חָכָם אֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר בִּפְנֵי מִי שֶׁהוּא גָדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ בְחָכְמָה וּבְמִנְיָן, וְאֵינוֹ נִכְנָס לְתוֹךְ דִּבְרֵי חֲבֵרוֹ, וְאֵינוֹ נִבְהָל לְהָשִׁיב, שׁוֹאֵל כָּעִנְיָן וּמֵשִׁיב כַּהֲלָכָה, וְאוֹמֵר עַל רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן וְעַל אַחֲרוֹן אַחֲרוֹן, וְעַל מַה שֶּׁלֹּא שָׁמַע, אוֹמֵר לֹא שָׁמָעְתִּי, וּמוֹדֶה עַל הָאֱמֶת. וְחִלּוּפֵיהֶן בַּגֹּלֶם:

[There are] seven things [characteristic] in a clod, and seven in a wise man: A wise man does not speak before one who is greater than he in wisdom, And does not break into his fellow’s speech; And is not hasty to answer; He asks what is relevant, and he answers to the point; And he speaks of the first [point] first, and of the last [point] last; And concerning that which he has not heard, he says: I have not heard; And he acknowledges the truth. And the reverse of these [are characteristic] in a clod.

Text from Sefaria: LINK