Weekend of Prayer For Zion’s Sake: 17-19 November 2023

Prayer for Israel’s Defense Forces

May He who blessed our ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bless the members of the Israel’s Defense Forces and it’s security services who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God from the Lebanese border to the Egyptian desert, from the Mediterranean Sea to the approach of the Aravah, and wherever else they are, on land, in air and at sea.

May the Lord make the enemies who arise against us be struck down before them. May the Holy One, blessed be He, protect and deliver them from all trouble and distress, affliction and illness, and send blessing and success to all the work of their hands. May He subdue our enemies under them and crown them with deliverance and victory. And may there be fulfilled in them the verse, “It is the Lord your God who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to deliver you.” And let us say: Amen.

Prayer for Those Being Held in Captivity

May He who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Aaron, David and Solomon, bless protect and guard the members of Israel’s Defense Forces missing in action or held captive, and other captives among our brethren, the whole house of Israel, who are in distress or captivity, as we, the members of this holy congregation, pray on their behalf. May the Holy One, blessed be He, have compassion on them and bring them out from darkness, and bring them swiftly back to their families’ embrace. Give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness and for the wonders He does for the children of men; and may there be fulfilled in them the verse: “Those redeemed by the Lord will return; they will enter Zion with singing, and everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” And let us say: Amen.