Jewish congregations, synagogues, and rabbis from across the Diaspora have joined together in prayer for Israel as it continues its operation against the Islamic Republic.
The Orthodox Union asked members to join it in reciting specially selected psalms (20, 83, 121, 130, and 142). “At this critical time, as Israeli forces courageously undertake defensive strikes against the malevolent Iranian regime and its forces and as the state of Israel and Jews everywhere encounter much hostility and danger, all of us offer sincere prayers,” it wrote.
In a separate video, OU President Mitch Aeder said, “In addition to the incredible stress and worry about incoming missile attacks are the day-to-day disruptions in your life, which are so stressful.
“We wish we could be more helpful from here; we can’t get to Israel right now. What we are doing is advocating for you, for Israel, in the government here. From those of us here in chutz l’aretz (the Diaspora), our prayers are with you.
We are adding extra tefilos (prayers); we’re saying tehillim (psalms) for the success of our hayalim (soldiers) and the success and the safety of all our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel).”
On hearing the news of Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran, Beth El Synagogue in Minnesota held a prayer gathering for Israel, where congregants shared “words of psalms, some niggunim (songs), and sought comfort and strength together.”
“We hold Israel particularly close at this time, and we pray for the safety of everyone impacted and the healing of those injured. We stand together as one people, one community. Our hearts and prayers are with our siblings in Israel.”
The Rabbinical Council of New South Wales in Australia held a “night of tefila (prayer) and hizuk (encouragement) for our brothers and sisters in Israel.”
Rabbi Levi Wolff of the Central Synagogue in Sydney led the services in which it was said, “As Israel is once again forced to step up to lead the world in battle against evil and those who would destroy us, please take a moment to pray for their safety and success and for the safety of all our brothers and sisters in the holy land.”
Rabbi Gidon Moskovitz of Florida’s Young Israel Congregation asked for the community to pray for Israel as it carries out “this most important mission.”
He drew attention to this past Shabbat’s weekly Torah portion, which discusses the blowing of trumpets during national emergencies, such as times of war.
“The trumpets’ strong and piercing sound helps us remove distractions so that we can be present and truly pour our hearts out in our tefilos, which are so very necessary during such precarious times. While we no longer have the chatzotzros (trumpets), we certainly have tefila (prayer). This is a time for us to daven (pray).”
“May this be a decisive and complete victory against Iran, the leading foe of Israel and the largest supporter of terrorism across the globe. May this mission bring lasting peace and tranquility to Israel and the entire region.”
“Our hearts are in the East”
Rabbi Moshe Hauer, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that it is “clear to us that virtually every congregation [in the OU] has assembled themselves to pray.”
“Communities and synagogues, all over the Jewish world, certainly all over the US and Canada, have used this moment to respond with significant prayer.”
He added that praying for Israel is something that Diaspora congregations have “become accustomed to doing” since October 7.
As an example, he said there has always been an afternoon Mincha prayer service at the Orthodox Union offices and that it was always 12 minutes. But since October 7, the OU has added five extra psalms to the service, making it 15 minutes.
Nevertheless, he said there has been a “burst of focus and intensity since last Thursday.”
The women’s initiative prayer gathering of the OU maxed out on its 1,000-person Zoom limit on Thursday night.
“Prayer is the classic Jewish response,” he continued, adding, “We are now privileged to be able to pray for a very non-classic Jewish response in terms of what Israel is doing, and we pray for their success.”
“Our hearts are in the East,” he told the Post.
“Every synagogue has always been oriented toward Israel and Jerusalem. When we lived by the millions in Israel and when we lived in Israel by the dozens, Israel has always been the focal point of our prayers,” he said.
“It’s important for Jews in Israel to know that us Jews in the Diaspora see them as our leaders.”