What is mi shebeirach chabad?

Mi Shebeirach — The Chabad Version

The Mi Shebeirach (מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ) is a traditional Jewish prayer of blessing, and the Chabad version refers to the specific nusach (liturgical text and melody) used within the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic tradition. It is recited for those who are ill, asking God — "He who blessed our forefathers" — to send a refuah sheleimah (complete healing) to a named individual.

Key Takeaways

Mi Shebeirach means "He who blessed," and it is a prayer invoking the merit of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs to bring blessing or healing.
The Chabad version follows Nusach Ari (also called Nusach HaAri), the liturgical rite codified by the Arizal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria) and adopted by Chabad-Lubavitch.
It is most commonly recited for the sick (cholim), asking for a refuah sheleimah — healing of body (refuat haguf) and soul (refuat hanefesh).
The Chabad melody and precise wording differ slightly from Ashkenazic and Sephardic versions.
It is typically recited after the Torah reading, when the congregation is gathered and the Torah scroll is still open.

Detailed Answer

What Is Mi Shebeirach?

The prayer begins with the words:

"מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב..." "May He who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob..."

It is a formula of blessing that invokes the merit of the Avot (Patriarchs) — and in some versions also the Imahot (Matriarchs: Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah) — on behalf of the person being blessed.

The prayer has roots going back to at least the medieval period and appears in various forms across all major Jewish communities.

The Chabad Nusach (Liturgical Rite)

Chabad Hasidim pray according to Nusach Ari (נוסח האר"י), named after Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (the Arizal, 16th century Safed), who is said to have received a divinely inspired version of the prayer liturgy.

The Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (founder of Chabad), carefully compiled this nusach in his Siddur Torah Or, drawing from both Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions as filtered through the Arizal's Kabbalistic teachings. [Shulchan Aruch HaRav, authored by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi]

The Chabad Mi Shebeirach for the sick typically includes:

A request for refuat hanefesh (healing of the soul) and refuat haguf (healing of the body)
The phrase "בתוך שאר חולי ישראל" — "among all the other sick of Israel" — emphasizing communal solidarity
A note that the blessing is given "בשבת היא מלזעוק ורפואה קרובה לבא" on Shabbat — acknowledging that Shabbat is not a time for crying out, but healing is near

When Is It Recited?

After the Torah reading (keriat haTorah) on Shabbat, Mondays, Thursdays, Rosh Chodesh, and holidays
The names of ill individuals (cholim) are called out, and the gabbai (synagogue coordinator) or rabbi recites the blessing
It may also be recited at other times of need — before surgery, during illness, or at a person's bedside

Chabad vs. Other Versions

| Feature | Chabad (Nusach Ari) | Ashkenaz | Sephard | |---|---|---|---| | Matriarchs included? | Varies by custom | Often yes | Generally no | | Melody | Distinctive Chabad niggun | Various | Various | | "Refuat hanefesh" before "refuat haguf"? | Yes | Varies | Varies |

The order of refuat hanefesh before refuat haguf (soul before body) in the Chabad version reflects the Kabbalistic understanding that spiritual healing must precede and enable physical healing.

Deeper Meaning

The Maharsha and other authorities note that invoking the merit of the Patriarchs (zechut avot) is not merely a rhetorical device — it reflects the Kabbalistic and philosophical teaching that the Jewish people remain spiritually bound to their ancestors, and that accumulated merit can intercede for individuals in need. [Based on general Torah tradition; no specific retrieved source]

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, emphasized that giving someone's Hebrew name during Mi Shebeirach connects to their spiritual root, which is why the Hebrew name (and mother's name) is used rather than a secular name.

For personal guidance on liturgical practice or halachic questions about prayer, consult your local rabbi or posek.