Lone Soldier in the IDF

IDF InsigniaFor Yom Ha’atzmut, a prayer for the young men and women in the IDF who have come alone to Israel, without their families, to live the dream of building lives here and serving our people in the military. The term is chiyal boded – Lone Soldier – and Israel embraces them with love and care. This is an adaptation of a piece I wrote for Lone Soldiers during Operation Pillar of Defense. While these young men and women are the inspiration for this prayer, the idea came from a soldier’s mother.

Lone Soldier in the IDF
Guardian of Israel,
Young men and women
Have left their homes and families
Throughout the world
To find their place in the Land,
To build lives of hope,
And to serve Your People in the IDF.

Bless them,
And bless all soldiers
Of the Israel Defense Forces,
With strength and skill,
Compassion and determination,
The hallmarks of our military.
Let comradeship bolster their courage.
Let them keep faith with their vision
Of a strong and vital Jewish state.
Look with compassion on their families
And the families of all our military.
Ease their minds.
Console their hearts.
Grant their deepest prayers
For the well-being of their children.

Source of Peace,
Shield our soldiers from the traumas of war.
Keep them safe,
So that they may keep us safe.
Return them swiftly in life and in health
To the loving arms of our people.

© 2014 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: A few lines of this prayer were taken from “For the IDF: Operation Pillar of Defense.” Here are links to two more related prayers, “To the Terrorist” and “For Peace in the Middle East,” as well as a link to more prayers for Israel.

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