Thousands pray for IDF at the Western Wall

Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar leads thousands in "slihot" prayers for the safety of IDF and Israeli citizens.

By DEBORAH S. DANAN
Chief Rabbi Amar at kotel (photo credit: Deborah Danan)
Chief Rabbi Amar at kotel
(photo credit: Deborah Danan)
Thousands of people gathered at the Western Wall on Sunday just before 4 p.m. for a mass prayer service led by Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.
The service comprised mainly of the Slihot prayers, traditionally said in the leadup to the High Holy Days, and included special prayers for the safety of Israel’s soldiers fighting in the Operation Pillar of Defense.
Amar was joined by other rabbis including Rabbi David Batzri, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, rabbi of the Western Wall, and Rabbi Zamir Cohen, chairman of the Hidabroot organization.
The chief rabbi called upon Jews to take upon themselves to study more Torah – what he called “Israel’s ultimate weapon” – and in particular to take upon themselves to study a page of the Zohar every day. He also beseeched the Jewish nation to be particularly mindful of Shabbat observance at this time of war, and to abstain from becoming embroiled in arguments with fellow Jews.
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Rachel Gesoff, a US citizen who has yet to make aliya, made the trip to the Western Wall to join in the prayers.
“Being by the Kotel was surreal,” she said. “I felt a sense of unity among my nation, people from all walks of life and from all corners of the world are here with one clear thought and intention: To protect our soldiers and protect our borders, and to keep everyone safe physically and spiritually. It was an honor to see the face of such a holy rabbi [Amar].”
Gesoff said that she was not nervous about being in Israel right now, but the same cannot be said for her family in the US.
“My family expressed concern, however they think I’m being courageous for staying here. Just to be here, praying in front of such righteous leaders has brought comfort to me. I am confident that Hashem [God] will protect us and that we will defeat our enemies once and for all and be safe in our land.”