The OU is providing them with special gift certificates, underwritten in a unique manner: the sale of wallet-sized prayer cards. The cards, produced by the Orthodox Union , feature a full-color photo of soldiers in an emotional embrace at the Western Wall, with the text in Hebrew or English of the special Mi Shebeirach prayer for the Israel Defense Forces on the flip side. Thousands of cards have been purchased at $1 apiece in the United States, Canada and elsewhere.
"When Howard Rhine conceived the idea late last year of producing these cards for sale," explained OU President Harvey Blitz, "it became clear that there was a double opportunity here - both to pray daily for the welfare of the men and women who are defending Israel and its people, and at the same time to relieve the financial distress experienced by many of these soldiers and their families."
IDF Chief Rabbi Brig.-Gen. Yisrael Weiss, during his recent visit this summer to the United States, told the OU Leadership, "The OU's dual program of educating Diaspora Jews to pray daily for our soldiers - i.e., the soldiers of the Jewish People - and to contribute materially to strengthen and encourage many of those same soldiers, is one more proof that we are a united Nation, and that unity is our strength. In that strength, we shall truly merit G-d's blessing."
"When Howard Rhine conceived the idea late last year of producing these cards for sale," explained OU President Harvey Blitz, "it became clear that there was a double opportunity here - both to pray daily for the welfare of the men and women who are defending Israel and its people, and at the same time to relieve the financial distress experienced by many of these soldiers and their families."
IDF Chief Rabbi Brig.-Gen. Yisrael Weiss, during his recent visit this summer to the United States, told the OU Leadership, "The OU's dual program of educating Diaspora Jews to pray daily for our soldiers - i.e., the soldiers of the Jewish People - and to contribute materially to strengthen and encourage many of those same soldiers, is one more proof that we are a united Nation, and that unity is our strength. In that strength, we shall truly merit G-d's blessing."