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The
Baal Shem Tov, or Besht — the founder of Chasidism —
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A prayer for the land and state of Israel, for our timesGet the PDF in three formats (with commentary, 2 per page, full page format)The traditional prayer for the state of Israel, which is more literally titled “A Prayer for Peace for the State” – tefilah lish’lom hamedinah – was written in 1948 by the chief rabbis of what had up until then been Palestine, in a time of war. The state was under direct attack by the Arab armies, and there was little distinction between peace, survival, and victory. It is long past time to make such distinctions. Israel and the Jewish people live in a much more complex reality, a democratic reality, where the triumph of one political party or set of goals can change the outlook for peace, and the possibility of justice. In our time, praying for peace for Israel must include praying for the rectification of its relationships with neighboring countries, and with the Palestinian people, some of whom are Israeli citizens, and the majority of whom are in some way under Israel’s control. This prayer imagines that the best reality for the Jewish state is also the best reality for all of her citizens and for everyone who lives “in the land,” no matter where they are in relation to the Green Line or Areas A, B and C.
* In the face of COVID, we may also add to the prayer protection from plague – and if one does that, it would make sense to also ask for protection from famine and exile. (For the latter I would have in mind our own exile that could be brought on by negating the covenant to respect the land, the poor and the stranger, as well as the exile of Palestinians from their land by settlements or by having their trees uprooted out by radicalized settlers or the IDF, etc.) NOTA BENE: I have added those words just to the prayer you see on the page. The added words are in bold italics in the English and unvoweled in the Hebrew. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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Design in progress © Rabbi David Mevorach Seidenberg 2006 |