Bereshit bara Elohim et ha shamayim v'et ha aretz

"In the beginning God put healing into the heavens and the earth."
It has been a hard year for all of us in terms of world events. The stability and confidence that we had in our security and economy vanished with 9/11 and the continuing slide of the stock market. I have learned that in difficult times I can turn to Torah for solace and guidance. She is sometimes called mayyim chayyim, living waters, a substance that soothes and revives. Here is a teaching that has comforted me in the past and continues to give me hope for the future.

Torah begins with the words, "Bereishit bara Elohim et ha-shamayim v’ha-aretz. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." That is the way most of us have heard the translation.

In Hebrew, the word bara usually means create. But it is also connected to the word for health, or healing, briah. So, teaches rebbetzin and healing practitioner Channah Schaefer, we could say that "In the beginning God put healing into the heavens and the earth." "V’ha-aretz hay’ta tohu va-vohu," "And the earth was in chaos and void," Torah continues. "And darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the waters. And God said, "let there be light. And there was light."

I learn from this that chaos is a naturally recurring state of being, but only a temporary state. The Divine Mind has a plan whereby light can come of our chaos and darkness. Healing can come out of pain and disturbance.

My mind turns to the October of 1970, when I had just given birth to my third child in four years, and was dealing with a prolapsed uterus, which is a weakening of muscles holding up the uterus. The doctors said "Six weeks of bed rest, and maybe you’ll be fine." There was no medicine to prescribe, just rest. We hired around the clock help for the house and my

little daughters, and I diligently spent six weeks on my back, feeding my newborn son, and watching the leaves turn colors, letting God’s laws of nature do their healing work. Miraculously, after six weeks, I was fine.

Healing indeed is built into the plan of the universe.

Many years later, I wrote a song of healing, based on this experience. The words may be taken as a guided meditation.

Waters of Healing
by Rabbi Shohama Wiener ©2002

May the waters of healing flow through our soul
May the waters of healing flow through our mind
May the waters of healing flow through our heart
May the waters of healing flow through our form

Chorus:

Ana el na, please Holy One,
Refa na la, let Your healing be done
Ana el na, heal our soul,
Refa na la, may we be whole

May the pure light of healing flow through our soul
May the pure light of healing flow through our mind
May the pure light of healing flow through our heart
May the pure light of healing flow through our form

May the Force that creates, sustains, and heals send you whatever it is you need for your healing and renewal. Refuah shleimah b’miheirah, A speedy and complete healing. Reb Shohama