A Multi-Faith Prayer for Israel Under Attack

by Rabbi Samuel Cohon, Congregation Beit Simcha

In this moment of heartbreak, all people of every truly religious conviction stand in full solidarity with Israelis. We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and believe that all Americans across our country must stand united against these evil acts that have claimed so many innocent lives. 

We call on all civilized people to support Israel and its people in this traumatic time, and to defend the values of decency and human respect that are integral to human life on our shared planet.  This is a time to come together.  A carefully planned, massive assault on the innocent civilians of a civilized nation is an attack on all civilization, a crime against humanity.  Our religious values insist that we respect the integrity of human life and assert that those who attack it must be prevented from ever repeating this atrocity.

We religious leaders join together, in full unity across any perceived boundary lines of faith and religious tradition.  And so we pray:

We pray for the souls of more than 900 Israelis, Americans, Brazilians, Argentinians, and other nation’s citizens of all ages, from the very young to the elderly, brutally murdered by terrorists.  May their families find comfort in God, and may their hearts heal with time and with the help of the God who can bring consolation, from this awful destruction and heartbreaking loss.  Our prayers tonight are for them.

We pray for the thousands of wounded Israelis of all ages injured by the rockets, bullets, and grenades of terrorists.  May God help them heal completely, give their doctors and nurses skill and perseverance, and bring them to a complete healing of body, heart, and soul after this terrible trauma.  May they be comforted in their ordeal by the God who helps bring healing.  Our prayers tonight are for them.

We pray for the safe recovery of over 100 kidnapped hostages taken by these terrorists into Gaza, cruelly abducted to be used for evil purposes.  In their captivity and fear may they retain hope, and may their lives be spared by those who criminally forced them from their lives into this dark night of oppression.  We pray to God that they will be liberated speedily and soon, returned to safety and to their loved ones.  Our prayers tonight are for them.

We pray for the safety of those who are engaged in battling against the terrorists, who risk their lives to rescue those in danger and to prevent such atrocities from being perpetrated again.  We pray that they accomplish their objectives successfully as quickly as humanly possible and deny those who perpetrate evil any gains from their carefully planned actions against the innocent.  Our prayers tonight are for them.

And we pray for the Jewish people, and for all good people of every religion and culture who support Israel and its right to exist in security and safety.  May they remain strong and steadfast in their convictions and dedicated to the freedom of the only Jewish state in the world, and may their actions and words help it through this time of great trauma and tragedy.  Our prayers tonight are for them.

Finally, may we come again, ultimately, to a time when in the words of the great prophet Isaiah, all shall “sit under their vine and fig tree and none shall make them afraid.”  So may it be.