God, let me cry on your shoulder

for Your boundless compassion.

Soothe the children who witnessed

things no child should see,

the teachers who tried to protect them

but couldn’t, the parents

who are torn apart with grief,

who will never kiss their beloveds again.

Strengthen the hands and hearts

of Your servants tasked with caring

for those wounded in body and spirit.

Help us to find meaning

in the tiny lights we kindle tonight.

Help us to trust

that our reserves of hope

and healing are enough

to carry us through.

We are Your hands: put us to work.

Ignite in us the unquenchable yearning

to reshape our world

so that violence against children

never happens again, anywhere.

We are Your grieving heart.

– A prayer after today’s school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat (Velveteen Rabbi)