Rabbi Shimon Galai to Lead Special Prayer for Health on Hoshana Rabbah

On the early morning of Hoshana Rabbah, Rabbi Shimon Galai will lead a special prayer service at his home, focusing on healing for the sick and continued health for the well. The prayer event is timed for Hoshana Rabbah, known as the final day of judgment for the year, when decrees are sealed.

During the ceremony, the names of donors to the Kupat Ha'ir charity will be presented to Rabbi Galai for a special blessing. The rabbi has prepared a "Medical Scroll" listing the names of contributors, stating that their names will be mentioned during the prayer for a "good life, for the sick to be healed, and for the healthy not to fall ill and to maintain their complete health." The scroll also expresses hope that God will hear their pleas and fulfill their wishes for good.

The prayer service takes place against a backdrop of significant financial hardship for many families, particularly during the holiday season. Expenses for Sukkot, holiday meals, and new clothing for children, coupled with pre-existing debts, push struggling families to the brink of collapse. Kupat Ha'ir reports an increasing number of aid requests.

The article emphasizes the connection between charity and prayer for health, citing the verse "Charity saves from death." Donating to families in need during this period is presented as a way to gain merit, which, combined with Rabbi Galai's prayers, could influence one's fate for the coming year. The event aims to include donors in the Hoshana Rabbah prayers and provide holiday joy to needy families.