Memorial Prayer for 9-11 First Responders
This is a memorial prayer for first responders to the 9-11 attacks. It’s modified from “Yizkor for First Responders,” a prayer that I posted as part of “A Liturgy for 9-11.” This differs from the original prayer in three ways: i) the original was written to be said for an individual first responder, while this is for all first responders; ii) the original is adaptable to any event claiming the life of a first responder, while this is specific to 9-11; and iii) the original was written for private prayer, while this is written for communal worship. To listen along, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows. This will appear in my forthcoming book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.
Memorial Prayer for 9-11 First Responders
G-d of the selfless,
G-d of the strong and the brave,
Grant a perfect rest among the souls of the righteous
To those who died in service to others because of
The 9/11 attacks on the United States.
May their dedication to protecting life serve as a shining lamp of love
And the works of their hands bring us all merit in heaven.
Bless the souls of all who have died to save others,
Civilians and professionals,
The trained and the untrained,
In every age and in every land,
Men and women who answered the call of honor, duty and service.
May their memories be sanctified with joy and love.
May their souls be bound up in the bond of life,
A living blessing in our midst.
© 2011 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.
Postscript: Here’s a link to “A Liturgy for 9-11,” which does not have audio. Here are links to individual 9-11 prayers with audio: “For 9-11 Survivors,” “To the Terrorist” and “At the Hand of Terror II: A 9-11 Memorial Prayer.”
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
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One Response to “Memorial Prayer for 9-11 First Responders”
I would liike to use a version of the text for a commenoration service at our school. Is this possible? Mona Klein