Israel Independence Day reminds me that there are many Jews today who still refuse to pray for the State of Israel and for our Jewish sons and daughters who serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). There are those who salve their consciences for not saying the prayer by claiming that there are non-religious Jews leading Israel (as if we

There are several types of Jews, and each type differs in his approach to the Prayer for the State of Israel.

may only pray for religious Jews), and there are those who claim that they do not want to pray for the leaders who are selling Israel's birthright to the Arabs (they do not understand what is being said in the prayers), and who blame our sons and daughters who serve in the IDF for the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif.


There are several types of Jews, and each type differs in his approach to the Prayer for the State of Israel. There are those who say the prayer each week on Shabbat and say the special psalms (and Hallel) on Israel Independence Day. There are those who disagree with some aspect of the prayer (like the Conservatives or certain Orthodox groups) and make up their own prayers. They seem to believe that despite the uniformity in prayers desired by the rabbis, their individualistic prayer, which separates them from the majority of Jews who pray for Israel, is better than the prayer adopted by the former Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rabbi Yitzchak Herzog (o.b.m.) and Rabbi Bentzion Uziel (o.b.m.). There are, of course, those who say no specific prayer or psalms because they are either irreligious or against the State and care little for Jewish soldiers. The children of many of these will not serve in the IDF nor will they do National Service, and they may not see a need for the prayers for the safety of our children who do serve.


Since the recent expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif, some nationalist Jews demonstrate their anger at the government by demonstratively remaining seated or walking out of shul during the Prayer for Israel and the prayer for the welfare our children. They seem to ignore the fact that the prayer is not a compliment to any of Israel's secular leaders, but rather a prayer asking G-d to give these leaders of little faith more intelligence and a better understanding of Judaism and Jewish history. Why these nationalists also stopped praying for the welfare of our (and their) sons and daughters who are at war is beyond my understanding. Even if we are not happy with how our children behaved (during the expulsion), we still must pray for their health, safety and victory.


We recently had an incident in which the main member of a band our yishuv wanted to hire for Israel Independence Day declared that he would not be willing to play the Hatikva (and another band had to quickly be found). This knee-jerk reaction of our own nationalists is short-sighted and shows a lack of understanding of these prayers and the national anthem.


Let us look at some aspects of what the Prayer for Israel is requesting and implying.


Many Orthodox Jews believe today that we are in the throes of the Messianic age and they should not refuse to see G-d's open hand in the rebirth of a Jewish homeland. The text is a religious prayer and mentions the coming of the Messiah. It asks G-d to send truth and understanding to our leaders and guide them (away from their current path) to the correct path. It asks that the hand of the defenders of Israel be strengthened and that true peace and everlasting joy be granted to Israel.


The prayer seeks G-d's help in gathering the exiles to Jerusalem, as it is written in the Torah. It asks G-d to unite our hearts to love and revere G-d and to observe all of the mitzvot in the Torah. It asks that G-d speedily send the Mashiach of the House of David to redeem us and let the entire world declare that HaShem, the G –d of Israel, is

Every believing Jew should pray for the religious welfare of Israel.

King and His dominion rules over all.


Amen. Selah.


No current political leaders are praised, but rather we pray that they see the true light and the error of their ways. We desperately need G-d's help to influence our weakly educated secular leaders who have abandoned Jewish values and Judaism. Every believing Jew should pray for the religious welfare of Israel.


We feel that those Jews living outside of Israel, whose children do not serve in the IDF and who are protected from harm, should at least pray for our children who must defend our country. How devastating it is when a child or grandchild falls in battle; the least that can be done is to say a weekly prayer for the safety of our soldiers. Please use the simple prayers composed by the rabbis of Israel when you pray for us. If your gabbai refuses to permit the reciting of the prayers for Israel and for our soldiers, there is nothing to prevent you from saying the prayers silently.