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War

This is an archive of prayers composed in response to, or in anxious anticipation of, war.

Click here to contribute a prayer you have written, or a transcription and translation of a historical prayer.

Resources filtered by LANGUAGE: “Hebrew”” (clear filter)

Sorted Chronologically (old to new). Sort most recent first?

תחינה ליובל מלחמת ששת הימים | A prayer on the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War, by Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit Halachmi (2017)

“A prayer on the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War” by Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit Halachmi was first read on 11 Sivan 5777 (June 5th 2017) and published on his Facebook page. English translation: Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi, Rabbi Andrea Coustan London and Daniel London.

Categories:

War

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English Translation, ארץ ישראל Erets Yisrael, מדינת ישראל Medinat Yisrael, Six Day War, ישראל Yisrael, יובל Yovel Jubilee

Contributor(s):

Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit-Halachmi and Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi, Ph.D.

תפילה לשלום אזרחי סוריה וחלבּ (ארם-צובה, אר”ץ)‏ | Prayer for the Well-being of the Citizens of Syria and Residents of Aleppo (Masorti Movement in Israel, 2017)

This prayer for peace for the citizens of Syria and residents of Aleppo was first published by the Masorti Movement in Israel, via their web page here. The prayer was transcribed to Unicode Hebrew by Aharon Varady. Translation adapted by Aharon from one provided by Rivka Kellner in a Facebook comment.

Categories:

War, 🇸🇾 Syria

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Aleppo, Chemical attack, Masorti Movement, Syria, Syrian Civil War, ישראל Yisrael

Contributor(s):

the Masorti Movement in Israel and Ze'ev Kainan

תפילה מאת הרב עדין שטײנזלץ | A Prayer [in Response to Terror] by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz

This is an undated prayer written attributed to Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz (1937-2020) and shared via the Facebook page of Merkaz Steinsaltz (the Steinsaltz Center). The English translation (possibly also made by Rabbi Steinsaltz) was shared by the Center in a separate document.

Categories:

Terror, War

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Needing Vocalization

Contributor(s):

Adin Steinsaltz

Prayer for the People of Ukraine, by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations, 2022)

“Prayer for the People of Ukraine” was written by the chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, Ephraim Mirvis, and shared via the Twitter account of the Office of the Chief Rabbi.

Categories:

Conflicts over Sovereignty and Dispossession, War, 🇺🇦 Ukraine

Tags:

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., British Commonwealth, British Jewry, English vernacular prayer

Contributor(s):

Ephraim Mirvis, Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

תפילה לאוקראינה | Молитва за Україну | Prayer for Ukraine, by Rabbi Miriam Klimova (2022)

A prayer for Ukraine by Rabbi Miriam Klimova in Hebrew and Ukrainian first shared via her Facebook page on 24 February 2022.

Categories:

Conflicts over Sovereignty and Dispossession, War, 🇺🇦 Ukraine

Tags:

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., peace, protection

Contributor(s):

Rabbi Lior Nevo (translation), Miriam Klimova and Aharon N. Varady (translation)

לזכרם של ההרוגים במלחמה באדמות אוקראינה | Молитва в пам’ять про загиблих у війні на землях України | Yizkor for those killed in the war in Ukraine, by Rabbi Miriam Klimova (2022)

A prayer for a Yizkor service on Yom Kippur during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Categories:

Conflicts over Sovereignty and Dispossession, Mourning, War, 🇺🇦 Ukraine, Military Personnel & Veterans

Tags:

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Ukrainian translation, יזכור yizkor

Contributor(s):

Miriam Klimova and Aharon N. Varady (translation)

Prayer for Ukraine, by Rabbi Dr. Reuven Kimelman (2022)

“Prayer for Ukraine” by Rabbi Dr. Reuven Kimelman was first published by Brandeis University on their website.

Categories:

Conflicts over Sovereignty and Dispossession, War, 🇺🇦 Ukraine

Tags:

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer

Contributor(s):

Reuven Kimelman

Молитва про захист наших сердець від ненависті | תפילה לשמירה על ליבנו משנאה (בזמן המלחמה) | Prayer to Protect Our Hearts from Hatred in Wartime, by Miriam Klimova (2022)

Miriam Klimova’s prayer “Молитва про захист наших сердець від ненависті” תפילה לשמירה על ליבנו משנאה (בזמן המלחמה) (Prayer to Protect Our Hearts from Hatred in Wartime), in the context of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, was first shared in Hebrew and Ukrainian via her Facebook page.

Categories:

War

Tags:

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., בצלם אלהים btselem Elohim

Contributor(s):

Miriam Klimova and Aharon N. Varady (translation)

תפילה לשלום העם האוקראינה | Prayer for the Welfare of Ukraine and the Ukrainian People (Masorti Movement in Israel 2022)

This prayer for peace in Ukraine was co-written by the Masorti Movement in Israel and the Rabbinic Assembly in Israel, and read by Rabbi Ori Friedland (Hebrew) and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg (English) in an international prayer service organized by Masorti Olami in solidarity with Ukraine and the Jewish communities therein.

Categories:

Conflicts over Sovereignty and Dispossession, War, 🇺🇦 Ukraine

Tags:

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M.

Contributor(s):

Knesset haRabanim b'Yisrael and the Masorti Movement in Israel

תפילה נוכח הרעה מדרום | Mi sheBerakh in the face of the Missiles Falling On Israel (Masorti Movement in Israel 2023)

“תפילה נוכח הרעה מדרום | Prayer in the face of the Missiles Falling On Israel” was shared by the Masorti Movement in Israel via their social media account on Twitter on 12 May 2023.

Categories:

War

Tags:

2023 Gaza–Israel clashes, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Gaza, Israeli–Palestinian conflict, מדינת ישראל Medinat Yisrael, מי שברך mi sheberakh

Contributor(s):

the Masorti Movement in Israel and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

תפילה לנוכח המלחמה שפרצה בבוקר שמיני עצרת, תשפ”ד | Prayer in response to the war that broke out on the morning of Shemini Atseret 5784, by Rabbi Gil Nativ (Masorti Movement 2023)

A prayer offered by Rabbi Gil Nativ for the Masorti Movement in Israel and the Knesset haRabanim b’Yisrael in response to the invasion from Gaza on Shemini Atseret 5784 (2023), and disseminated via their Facebook page.

Categories:

Conflicts over Sovereignty and Dispossession, Terror, War

Tags:

2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Needing Vocalization

Contributor(s):

Gil Nativ, the Masorti Movement in Israel, Knesset haRabanim b'Yisrael, Aharon N. Varady (transcription) and Shoshana Michael Zucker (translation)

תְּפִלָּה לִשְׁלוֹם הַמְּדִינָה | Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel [during the war begun on Shemini Atseret 5784], by Rabbi Mira Regev (HaTenuah HaReformit 2023)

This prayer for the welfare of the State of Israel, by Rabbi Mira Regev, was disseminated by HaTenuah HaReformit (The Israel Movement for Reform and progressive Judaism). English translation by Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman and Rabbi Efrat Rotem.

Categories:

🇮🇱 Medinat Yisra'el (the State of Israel), War

Tags:

2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Russian translation, Ukrainian translation

Contributor(s):

Miriam Klimova, Efrat Rotem (translation), Levi Weiman-Kelman (translation) and Mira Regev

הושע נא | Hosha-na [after the war begun on Shemini Atseret 5784], by Rabbi Annie Lewis (10 October 2023)

This litany of Hoshana’ot was written by Rabbi Annie Lewis. Hebrew translation by Shoshana Michael Zucker.

Categories:

Conflicts over Sovereignty and Dispossession, Terror, War

Tags:

2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Hebrew translation, הושענות hoshanot, Needing Vocalization

Contributor(s):

Annie Lewis and Shoshana Michael Zucker (translation)

דָּם זְכַרְיָה מְבַכֶּה | The blood of Zekhariah cries out, a qinah by Aryeh Baruch

As I was in NYC, I first heard the news of the pogrom with which Hamas opened the war between Hallel and the Torah reading on Shemini Atseret. The beginnings of what is now the final stanza of this… I am unsure whether to refer to it as a qinah or a piyut first stirred in my soul during Tefillat Geshem, and the refrain of that stanza during Hakafot that evening. Prayer and song, no matter how joyous, has taken on a somber, cutting, desperate edge for me in this new world where the safety I had once taken for granted was revealed to be an illusion, which is reflected in taking from the phrases taken from the liturgy of the Yomim Nora’im.

Categories:

Terror, War

Tags:

2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Hebrew translation, קינות Ḳinōt

Contributor(s):

Aryeh Baruch

Prayer [after the massacres on Shemini Atseret 5784], by Dr. Melila Hellner-Eshed

This prayer was offered by Dr. Melila Hellner-Eshed in the days following the attacks of Ḥamas and its allies from Gaza on southern Israel beginning Shemini Atseret 5784 (7 October 2023). The English translation was made Rabbi Zac Kamenetz and Rabbi Marc Margolius.

Categories:

Terror, War

Tags:

2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Contributor(s):

Zac Kamenetz (translation), Marc Margolius (translation) and Melila Hellner-Eshed

תפלת מי שברך לעת מלחמה מרחשוון תשפ״ד | Mi sheBerakh prayer for Israel at a time of War (Marḥeshvan 5784), by the Masorti Movement in Israel (2023)

“Prayer at a time of war (Marḥeshvan 5784)” was offered by The Masorti Movement In Israel-התנועה המסורתית בישראל and the כנסת הרבנים בישראל for use by congregations worldwide. Originally written by Rabbi Simcha Roth ז״ל, it was adapted by Ze’ev Kainan to suit the current horrors committed by Hamas.

Categories:

🇮🇱 Medinat Yisra'el (the State of Israel), War

Tags:

2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Israel, מי שברך mi sheberakh

Contributor(s):

Ze'ev Kainan, Simchah Roth, the Masorti Movement in Israel, Knesset haRabanim b'Yisrael and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

בָּתֵּי תּוֹסֶפֶת לְ”אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ“ לְמִלְחֶמֶת ”חַרְבוֹת בַּרְזֶל“‏ | Additional Stanzas of ‘Avinu Malkeinu’ for the Ḥarvot Barzel War, by Dr. Yael Levine

An addendum to “Avinu Malkeinu”, which is intended for recitation following the traditional version, which is said in many synagogues now during the Ḥarvot Barzel war (“War of Iron Swords,” i.e., the 2023 Israel–Hamas war).

Categories:

🇮🇱 Medinat Yisra'el (the State of Israel), War

Tags:

2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., אבינו מלכינו avinu malkeinu

Contributor(s):

Yael Levine

תפילה מונגשת לזמן מלחמה | A Prayer for Israel in Wartime, in simplified Hebrew (Masorti Movement in Israel 2023)

The Masorti Movement in Israel, in cooperation with the Israeli Institute on Cognitive Accessibility and Ami: The Association for People with Cognitive Developmental Challenges, produced this “accessible” Prayer in Times of War in simplified Hebrew with communications symbols. The prayer was offered in the spirit of the Masorti Movement’s Siddur b’khol Darkhekha (2018), designed primarily for special needs Bar/Bat Mitzvah programs.

Categories:

🇮🇱 Medinat Yisra'el (the State of Israel), War

Tags:

2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., children's prayers, Needing Vocalization

Contributor(s):

the Masorti Movement in Israel

תפילה לזמן מלחמה | Prayer for Israel in Time of War, by Rabbi Dr. Reuven Kimelman

Rabbi Dr. Reuven Kimelman notes his prayer for Israel in wartime is “refashioned from material online, especially that of Rabbi Ahud Sela.” The English version previously appeared in the article “For this unprecedented time of war and grief, new prayers for those held captive by Hamas” by Aviya Kushner (The Forward, 3 November 2023). The article notes the prayer “[acknowledges] that men, women and children are all among the abducted” and that it “expressly asks [God to] ‘comfort the families of all those murdered.'”

Categories:

🇮🇱 Medinat Yisra'el (the State of Israel), War

Tags:

2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Needing Vocalization

Contributor(s):

Reuven Kimelman

תפילה לחיילי צהל ולשבויים חרבות ברזל | Prayers for the welfare of the IDF soldiers and the captives of the Ḥarvot Barzel War, by Ze’ev Kainan (16 October 2023)

This prayer for the welfare of IDF soldiers and the captives of HAMA”S in Gaza was written by Ze’ev Kainan on 16 October 2023 in the days following the terrible events of 7 October 2023.

Categories:

Slavery & Captivity, War, Military Personnel & Veterans

Tags:

2023-2025 Israel–Hamas war, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M.

Contributor(s):

Ze'ev Kainan

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." (Psalms 90:17)

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