Many Jews would like to pray for US President Donald Trump to make a full and quick recovery from COVID-19. But is prayer for the president permitted under Jewish law?
The question was put to Rabbi Baruch Efrati: "Dear Rabbi, Is it permissible to pray for Trump to make a recovery, given his worsening medical condition?"
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Efrati responded that such prayers could be made and advised that anyone seeking to pray for Trump should recite "Mi Shebeirach," the Jewish prayer of healing, with Trump's name added.
Trump went through a "very concerning" period Friday and faces a "critical" next two days in his fight against COVID-19 at a military hospital, his chief of staff said Saturday – in contrast to a rosier assessment moments earlier by Trump doctors, who took pains not to reveal the president had received supplemental oxygen at the White House before his hospital admission.
Trump offered his own assessment Saturday evening in a video from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, saying he was beginning to feel better and hoped to "be back soon."
Hours earlier, chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters outside the hospital, "We're still not on a clear path yet to a full recovery."
In an update on the president Saturday night, his chief doctor expressed cautious optimism but added that the president was "not yet out of the woods."
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