The Misheberach Prayer (Shabbos)

Hi Rabbi If we are not allowed to make personal requests on Shabbos why do we do Misheberach prayers ? Thank you!

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

You are correct. As a general rule, we are forbidden to make personal requests on Shabbos. This even includes prayers for our health. In fact, we are told that one who visits a sick person on Shabbos is supposed to say to them “It is forbidden to cry out [in prayer] on Shabbos but may you have a speedy recovery.” So indeed, historically there were authorities who did not look favorably on reciting Misheberachs on Shabbos, especially for those who were only moderately ill.

Nevertheless, universal custom is to indeed recite Misheberachs on Shabbos without investigation into to the individual’s level of illness. To rationalize the custom, it is explained that the Misheberach is not merely to pray for one who is sick, but to tie the prayer into some other mitzva, as well. This is why most versions of the Misheberach prayer mention “…and so-and-so will give to charity (Be'li Neder)on his behalf [on behalf of the one who is ill]. In this way extra mitzvos are generating better justifying the recitation of the Misheberach.

It is also explained that only prayers for the sick that invoke tears are those that are forbidden on Shabbos. The Misheberach prayer, however, is not known to bring people to tears. Nevertheless, there are those who recommend only reciting a Misheberach for those who are critically ill.

In order to satisfy all views, the Shabbos wording of the Misheberach prayer contains both the words “Today is Shabbat and we are forbidden to cry out. May healing come quickly…" and the pledge to charity. It is worth mentioning that we are taught that one should seek the blessing of a great sage on behalf of one who is ill.

Shabbat 12a, 67a; Moed Katan 5a; Sota 32b; YD 335:6,10; OC 288 and commentaries at length