Lighting Shabbat candles to pray for Israel

Dear friends and members,

Our hearts are broken for our so many brothers and sisters who are suffering tremendously. We all are looking to help the situation in some way. Please read the beautiful letter of Rabbi Warren Goldstein that I share with you. In the merit of this special Mitzva, may Hashem bring healing to the wounded, comfort to the bereaved, protect our brave chayalim, and return the captives home.

Wishing everyone Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Chaim Bogopulsky

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At this time of harrowing danger, let us harness the spiritual power of lighting Shabbat candles to pray for Israel. For generations, Jewish women have prayed for their children and families at candle-lighting.

This Friday afternoon, 18 minutes before sunset, after we light our Shabbat candles, let us pray for the families and children, and for the brave soldiers of the State of Israel. At a time when many of us are lost for words we offer you our personal prayer, to recite after you light your Shabbat candles this week.

This is a spiritual war against those who seek to destroy Israel, not because of its borders, but because of what it stands for as the world’s only Jewish state. Our response must be to reaffirm our eternal Jewish values through Shabbat.

Please share this accompanying prayer with your mothers, sisters, daughters and grandmothers, and with all your friends and your wider community – and together, let’s counter the darkness by bringing more light into the world.

“The Jewish people are redeemed in the merit of righteous women,” say our sages. In the merit of our prayers and the mitzvah of candle-lighting, may G-d bring security and safety to Israel and comfort to her people.

Chief Rabbi Warren and Gina Goldstein

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Prayer after Shabbat candle-lighting:

(remember to print it out before shabbat) (Download here)

Our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, Rock and Redeemer of Israel, hear my supplication in the merit of Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah, our mothers, and in the merit of lighting the holy Shabbat candles.

Protect and deliver the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces and Security Forces, and all those engaged in saving lives, from all trouble and sorrow. Strengthen their hands and adorn them with the crown of Your salvation and victory.

I plead with You, Merciful One, in Your vast Majesty, liberate our captives, speedily deliver them from anguish to relief, and return them home to life and peace.

Save our brothers and sisters, our aged, men and women and children all who were wounded at the hands of the cruel enemy. Illuminate your presence for them and send them a complete healing, speedily in our days.

G-d, full of mercy and compassion, provide tranquil rest on the wings of the Divine Presence, for the souls of Your nation, men, women and children, murdered in cold blood, their blood spilled like water. May their eternal rest be in Gan Eden.

L-rd, our G-d, comfort the mourners of Your nation, heal the broken-hearted and bind up their wounds,

Turn Your countenance, oh G-d, to those dwelling in our land, from the border of Lebanon to the Egyptian desert; and spread over them Your shelter of peace, grant them safety, tranquility and security. Send Your light and truth to the leaders of the State of Israel, her ministers and advisors, and grace them with Your good counsel.

Speedily bring your final redemption to the world, when “death will vanish in life eternal”, when You will “wipe away tears from all faces”, when “nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore…and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of G-d as the waters cover the oceans.”

Amen.

אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֶאֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, צוּריִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹאֲלוֹ, אָנָּא שְׁמַע אֶת תְּחִנָּתִי בִּזְכוּת שָׂרָהוְרִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה אִמּוֹתֵינוּ וּבִזְכוּת הַדְלָקַת נֵרוֹת שַׁבַּתקֹדֶשׁ.

שְׁמֹר וְהַצֵּל מִכָּלצָרָה וְצוּקָה אֶת חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת אַנְשֵׁיכֹּחוֹת הַבִּטָּחוֹן וְהַהַצָּלָה, חַזֵּק אֶת יְדֵיהֶם וְעַטְּרֵם בְּכֶתֶריְשׁוּעָה וּבַעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחוֹן.

אָנָּא רַחוּם, בְּרֹבגְּאוֹנְךָ, שַׁחְרֵר אֶת שְׁבוּיֵינוּ, הוֹצִיאֵם מְהֵרָה מִצָּרָה לִרְוָחָהוְהַחֲזִירֵם הַבַּיְתָה לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלוֹם.

הוֹשַׁע אוֹתָם וְאֶתאַחֵינוּ וְאַחְיוֹתֵינוּ, זְקֵנִים וּזְקֵנוֹת, נָשִׁים, אֲנָשִׁים וְטַף,שֶׁנִּפְצְעוּ בִּידֵי הַצּוֹרֵר הָאַכְזָרִי. הָאֵר פָּנֶיךָ אֲלֵיהֶם וּשְׁלַחלָהֶם רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ.

אֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים,הַמְצֵא מְנוּחָה נְכוֹנָה עַל כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה לְנִשְׁמוֹת בְּנֵיעַמְּךָ, אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים, יְלָדִים וִילָדוֹת, שֶׁנִּרְצְחוּ בְּדָם קַרוְדָמָם נִשְׁפַּךְ כַּמַּיִם בִּידֵי הַצּוֹרְרִים. בְּגַן עֵדֶן תְּהֵאמְנוּחָתָם.

נַחֵם ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּאֶת אֲבֵלֵי עַמְּךָ, רְפָא לִשְׁבוּרֵי לֵב וַחֲבֹשׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָם.

שָׂא ה’ פָּנֶיךָאֶל כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי אַרְצֵנוּ, מִגְּבוּל הַלְּבָנוֹן וְעַד מִדְבַּר מִצְרַיִם,וּפְרֹשׂ עֲלֵיהֶם סֻכַּת שָׁלום וְשַׁלְוָה וְהַשְׁקֵט וָבֶטַח, וּשְׁלַחאוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ לְרָאשֵׁי הַמְּדִינָה, לְשָׂרֶיהָ וּלְיוֹעֲצֶיהָוְתַקְּנֵם בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ.

מְהֵרָה תַצְמִיחַ לָנוּגְאֻלָּה שְׁלֵמָה וְהַרְאֵנוּ בְּקִיּוּם דִּבְרֵי נְבִיאֶךָ: “בִּלַּעהַמָּוֶת לָנֶצַח, וּמָחָה ה׳ אֱלֹהִים דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים”, “לֹאיִשָּׂא גוֹי אֶל גּוֹי חֶרֶב וְלֹא יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה” וּ”מָלְאָההָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת אֲדֹנָי כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים”.

אָמֵן.