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Prayer: Let Us Pray

Let Us Pray… composed by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

Executive Director, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism

Ribono Shel Olam, Our God in Heaven, We gather as a kehilah kedoshah, a holy community, to communicate with God in our own individual and personal ways; to pray, to learn and sing together. 

Avinu She-ba-shamayim, stronghold and redeemer of the people of Israel. We pray for security and peace throughout the world, in the nations in which we live, and in the State of Israel. Guide its leaders and advisors with Your light and Your truth.  Strengthen the hands of those who defend our holy land.

Bless the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, the Canadian Armed Forces and the United States Armed Forces. Watch over all of our servicemen and servicewomen, from all nations, deployed throughout the world. May God protect our military personnel from all harm, danger, injury and illness. May God afford blessing and success to all their missions. May it prove true that Adonai, Your God, goes before You, and joins you to battle your enemies and aids you to be victorious.

Shomer Yisrael, Guardian of Israel, We call out to You with fervent plea and prayer to bless and protect the civilian men, women, and children brutally kidnapped by Hamas and held captive in Gaza, along with the members of the Israel Defense Forces, and all who are missing in action or held captive. May it be Your will, speedily and soon, to bring them out from darkness and the shadow of death and deliver them from their distress, and swiftly release them back to the loving embrace of their dear ones. Act on their behalf, Lord. May the words of Isaiah be fulfilled: “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.”

There is so much that occurs each and every day that we cannot control, and so we turn to our community, and to God, for comfort, and strength. We ask God for guidance, assistance, and resilience when the world around us seems to be out of our control – whether it be in times of war, or natural disasters like fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. 

Let us take a moment of silence, and each of us add our own individual reflections and prayers. PAUSE

Todah L’El, Thank you God for all the blessings bestowed upon us, and for this sacred community.   And let us all say, Amen

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