Israeli Defense Force Prayer for Israel
He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob -- may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God, from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.
May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them.
May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighters from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.
May He lead our enemies under our soldiers’ sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is the Lord your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.
Why Unity Matters Now More Than Ever
The question of why we need unity weighs on my mind, circling and returning with a force that knocks me down.
Now More Than Ever We Need Unity Among the World
There is “something” adversly wrong with society when groups are uniting to promote hate, destruction, and evil from the inner depths of the like not seen in decades.
Something is truly wrong.
It doesn't take an educated person to see what's happening on our streets, in universities, and on social media is grotesqely wrong.
That deep, dark hatred, that ancient misery people fall back upon called anti-semitism is as old as the Bible itself.
I won't delve into the historical implications of anti-Semitism, but it's essential to acknowledge that what we're witnessing is evil.
The solution, or the easy answer should and ultimately can be as simple as treating others the way you'd want to be treated.
Love your neighbor as yourself
It's such a simple line from the Torah: Treat others the way you'd want to be treated. 0r rephrased as: Love your neighbor as yourself Leviticus 19:18
I am sure the jihadist terrorists wouldn't want their loved ones burned and slaughtered, or harmed. So, why do it to others?
The central point of this blog is that those consumed by evil are no longer truly human; they've become distorted fragments of humanity.
We are made in God's image, and our purpose is to unite and pray together.
They, however, are fragments of humanity that walk and breathe but are no longer made in God's image. No longer human but pure evil.
Let's refocus on Unity.
We are made in God's image, and we are here to unite and pray among one another.
Hear of Israel the Lord is Our God, the Lord is One.
(Deuteronomy 6:4)
Shema Israel it is written that the Lord is One.
The Jewish people have been entrusted by God to carry on the message to the world, a task that comes with both revelation and opposition in the form of hatred.
Throughout history, from Amalek in the Torah to the Greeks and the destruction of the Holy Temple, to the Inquisition in Spain, and pograms in Russia, to the Nazis in Europe and now to the present-day Jihadists in the Middle East, the Amaleks are here.
The present-day challenges on our streets, universities, and social media where hatred persists are the modern day Amalek or Haman (Book of Esther)
When enemies go low, we must rise higher, seeking unity.
And we need your help.
Psalm 121:4-7 reassures us that the protector of Israel never sleeps. The Lord guards and protects us, ensuring safety. But, we need God to hear those words from everyone. To amplify it louder, making it travel through the hatred and above their acts of evil.
The protector of Israel never dozes or sleeps. The LORD will guard you; he is by your side to protect you. The sun will not hurt you during the day, nor the moon during the night. The LORD will protect you from all danger; he will keep you safe.
Praying for Israel and What is Right
What is prayer?
Prayer is what you want it to be.
It can come in saying words of praise in your heart, or reading scripture.
It can be reciting the Psalms (tehilim), or reading the soldiers prayer for Israel (see above).
God sees all, acknowledging our deeds of kindness, truth, and comfort.
Prayer involves more than words: it's actions like
- Treating others with kindness.
-
Speaking words of truth,
of comfort.
- Hug someone you might not have
- Call a friend or family member to see how they are doing after learning of the war in Israel.
- Donating time or money
- Lighting Shabbat candles
- Amplifiying what is right in the world through unity
- Call a place of worship to pray together that you normally do not attend
It might seem to be a slow process, as the haters scream louder, film videos and post them faster, send their “bots” to comment on all posts faster than we can type the word “peace,” but unity is stronger.
Remember, they might be louder but we are more powerful.
God hears.
God listens
God loves us all.
Reach out to your friends, pray for the safety of Israel, connect with others for prayers of unity, and respond kindly to those with questions.
If there is a the “but…” after any statement there is hesitation.
There is no but what about.
Terrorism is wrong
Align yourself with how you want to treat others, with kindness and respect.
If you align with cheering over burning bodies, calling your parents on a stolen cell phone and bragging you slaughtered 10 Jews with your own hands, then check your values.
Judeo-Christian values guide us to love thy neighbor as thyself.
But… there is no But.
There is no "but"; there is only the word "and," knowing that God sees everything.
