Praying for the Peace of Jerusalem and Israel
On Shabbat and holy days, our Sephardic and Mizrachi sisters and brothers recite Psalm 122, a late Psalm, in which holy day pilgrims in Jerusalem reflect on what it might have been like for pilgrims of prior eras to be in Jerusalem. Hence, in verse 5 we read: “Then sat the thrones of the House of David.”
To think of Jerusalem is to think of Israel. And we, like the Psalmist, cannot stop worrying, thinking, and hoping for Israel during this vulnerable time. The October 7 terrorist incursion by Hamas wreaked havoc on Israel. According to an Associated Press article on October 29, 1,400 Israelis have been killed, 5,431 Israelis have been injured, over 200 hostages have been taken, and some 250,000 Israelis have been displaced. Given that Israel is a small country, these numbers are devastating. Moreover, the psychological damage and ongoing strain of a war already over three weeks old, will affect a generation of Israelis, if not more.
The impulse of the psalmist is to pray. The psalmist counsels (verse 6) sha’alu sh’lom Yerushalayim, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Then the psalmist explains three facets. First is to pray for the well-being of those whose hearts appreciate and love Israel (verse 6). In our time, this is a call for all Jews and friends of Israel to come together to grieve, comfort, draw strength and courage to remain clear in these times, so that we can do what we can–and what we must–to help Israel through this dark time. It is a call for us to stand together against terrorism and for decency, civility, and democracy.
The second facet is to pray for peace and well-being within her borders and within her homes (verse 7). The feeling of security will not be easily restored to our Israeli sisters and brothers following the breach that Hamas took advantage of to sneak in, terrorize and murder civilians, and kidnapping innocents of all ages. That this facet is placed in the center of the three is an indication by the psalmist (and biblical editors) that it is the core piece to which we must attend right now.
Finally, the psalmist prayers for family and friends (v. 8). These include most immediately the family of those murdered, injured and kidnapped. Their lives have been forever changed. We should also keep in mind, however, that “family and friends” includes the entire Jewish people. We all feel that Israel is our home. Our liturgy tells us that “kol Yisrael chaverim va-chaverot,” that all Jews have a bond with one another, are interconnected, are friends and family of choice. This prayer follows the prayer for a restoration of security, because the process of tending to an entire nation in shock, in grief, and through a war and restoring the country beyond the end of this war, will be an ongoing effort lasting months, even years. We commit ourselves to this.
We at Congregation Am HaYam came together on the Shabbat of November 3 and 4 (especially on Saturday/Shabbat morning) to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Israel, to be together during this difficult time, to lift up one another with hope, and to find our resolve to continue to support Israel. We have designated this as Solidarity Shabbat, and we join with Conservative and Masorti synagogues across the globe who are acting in concert by having a Solidarity Shabbat.
Shalom al Yisrael.
May peace come upon Israel.
Rabbi J.B. Sacks
