Rabbi Howard Morrison

While it might seem obvious that Jews can and should pray for the health and well being of non-Jews, all questions in life find authentic answers from Jewish law and tradition. 

Back in 2007, Rabbi David Golinkin, a scholar of Halakha at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, formally addressed two questions: 1) Is it permissible to pray for a non-Jew? 2) if so, can a non-Jew be included in the standard Mee Sheberach prayer together with Jews?

After surveying all periods of Jewish history and relevant passages from Jewish legal literature, Rabbi Golinkin concludes, "it is permissible to recite a mee sheberach for non-Jews . . . May God heal Jews and non-Jews who are sick and send them all a refuah shlemah (complete recovery)."

Ever since President Donald Trump, the first lady, and others in his staff tested positive for Covid-19, his political supporters and opponents have gone viral on the issue of praying for his wellbeing.

It is understandable that the president's supporters immediately spelled his name and his mother's name in Hebrew letters for the mee sheberach prayer. Noteworthy is an online article written by the distinguished U.S. Reform Rabbi, Jeffrey Salkin, who wrote last Friday, addressing those who are strongly opposed to the president's practices and policies: "What will I pray for this Shabbat? We pray for all those afflicted with Covid-19, and we especially pray for the healing of our president and first lady. We pray for health and protection for all our leaders who have been exposed to this grievous malady, a malady that respects neither person nor position nor power."

It is common sense; it is morally right; it is halakhically correct - that we pray for people who are stricken with this or any disease. Such prayer is not about politics but the truest of petitionary prayer in Jewish tradition.

Rabbi Howard Morrison