Preserve the memory of your loved one with a plaque on our Yahrzeit Wall. Learn More ->

Search
Close this search box.

Prayer for Peace in Israel during Wartime

A yellow flower rests on a stone surface in a cemetery with blurred tombstones in the background.

Rock and Redeemer of the People of Israel, Guardian of the Covenant —

bless and protect the State of Israel and all of her inhabitants.

Guard this good land established with liberty, justice, and peace

as conceived by the Prophets of Israel.[i]

Open the hearts and minds[ii]

of all the leaders of the nation, her sons and her daughters,

to guide them in the paths of peace and justice with true strength and wisdom.[iii]

Strengthen the hands of those who defend and protect our holy land,

and crown their efforts with success

that they might establish your reign of righteousness,

free from all oppression and fear.[iv]

May the work of their hands be established

and the words of Your prophets be fulfilled:

“And they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks:

nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore.”[v]

Amen.


i “established with liberty, justice and peace as conceived by the Prophets of Israel”—from the Proclamation of Independence, Megillat Ha’atzma’ut.
ii  open up the hearts and minds—based on Deuteronomy 30:6
iii “Real strength is found in restraint and wisdom is gained from hearing one another’s truth.” Pirke Avot 4:1
iv based on Isaiah 54:14
v Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3

צור ישראל וגואלו, שומר הברית—

ברך והגן על מדינת ישראל

וכל תושביה.

שמור על הארץ הטובה הזאת

המושתתת על יסודות החרות,

הצדק והשלום

לאור חזונם של נביאי ישראל.

פתח לבבות מנהיגי העם,

בניה ובנותיה

והנחילם במעגלי צדק ובדרכי שלום

בגבורה, בחכמה ובתבונה.

חזק את ידי מגני ארץ קדשנו

ועטרת נצחון תעטרם.

תן להם אומץ לב

לתקן עולם במלכותך

בצדק וביושר ללא מורא ופחד.

מי יתן ומעשה ידיהם כוננה

להגשים את דברי נביאיך:

וכתתו חרבותם לאתים

וחניתותיהם למזמרות

לא ישא גוי אל- גוי חרב

ולא-ילמדו עוד מלחמה.

אמן.


Written for T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, by Rabbi Ron Aigen. Rabbi Aigen is the author of the Hadesh Yameinu Siddur, Mahzor, and Haggadah (Wellsprings of Freedom).

Facebook
Email

Honor the memory of your loved one with a donation to support Ritualwell

One Response

  1. Thank you for sharing a meaningful, beautifully articulated prayer. It speaks to the heart and resonates with the head

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Rituals

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network