“When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
(Deuteronomy 20:1-4)
Israel is again fighting in war; in Gaza against the terrorists of Hamas who still hold innocent Israelis captive, in Lebanon this week there have been strikes against Hezbollah, a terrorist group that seeks the total destruction of Israel, likewise there have been missile attacks from the Houthis in Yemen.
Israel is fighting for its survival. As such, we want to share with you a special Jewish prayer.
Every Shabbat, in synagogues throughout Israel, a prayer is recited for the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This prayer is more than just about physical protection, it’s a declaration of faith in God’s providence over His people from Bible times until today. It is a recognition that Israel’s survival is both a divine promise and a responsibility requiring the vigilance and courage of those who defend the land.
Jewish Prayer for IDF Soldiers
“He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God, from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.
“May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighters from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.
“May He lead our enemies under our soldiers’ sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is the Lord your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.”
