Posts Tagged ‘IDF’

 

Jerusalem Still Stands

Posted on: October 20th, 2023 by Alden

Two weeks have somehow passed since Israel was attacked and invaded. Jews around the world are now targets, as well. Here in Israel, shock and fear, sorrow and tears, have been joined with resolve and action. Our people are strong and resilliant. And Jerusalem still stands.

Jerusalem Still Stands
Two weeks
Have passed
Since rockets
Split the skies,
And invaders
Split our hearts.
Jerusalem
Still stands.

Two weeks
Have passed
Since our sons
Were abducted,
And our daughters
Taken hostage.
Jerusalem
Still stands.

Two weeks
Have passed
Since the blood
Of our people,
And tears of our nation,
Soaked the earth.
Jerusalem
Still stands.

Two weeks
Have passed
And our hearts still ache
And our souls still cry
While we storm
The gates of heaven
With our prayers.
Prayers for the captives.
Prayers for the murdered.
Prayers for the fallen.
Prayers for our soldiers.
Prayers for our people.
And Israel
Still stands.

עם ישראל חי
The people of Israel live.
The nation of Israel lives.
Jerusalem
Still stands.

© 2023 Alden Solovy and ToBendLight

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Postscript: This is one of nearly 10 pieces I’ve written since the invasion and war, including one song, “Nothing Left but Tears.”

Please check out These Words: Poetic Midrash on the Language of Torah and my other CCAR Press volumes: This Grateful Heart, This Joyous Soul, and This Precious Life, which can also be purchased as the Grateful/Joyous/Precious trilogy. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter. For a taste of my teaching, see my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer.”

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Photo Source: Barry Leff, 20October23

Rockets from Gaza

Posted on: November 13th, 2018 by Alden

This is a prayer for safety and peace in Israel. More than 1,300 rockets have been launched at Israel from Gaza from May 10-13, 2021, with no end in sight. This prayer was written in November of 2018 when hundreds of rockets were fired at Israeli cities and towns in the South along the Gaza border. Here is a listing, by date, of the rocket attacks by Gaza terror groups. See also “For the Soldiers of the IDF,” “Children of Gaza, Children of Israel” and “For Peace in the Middle East.”

Rockets from Gaza
Rock of Jacob,
Protector and Redeemer,
Watch over the people of Israel
As rockets rain down from Gaza.
Grant safety to the citizens and residents,
Soldiers and civilians,
Visitors and guests,
During these days of violence and fear.
Guard them,
And guard the entire nation.
Protect this land from violence and assault,
From kidnappers and terrorists,
From missile and mortar,
From those who would destroy this country and our people.

Source of blessings,
Grant safety and security to all nations
So that harmony and blessings resound
From the four corners of the earth.
Let quiet descend upon the land,
And let lasting peace come quickly, in our day.

© 2018 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com.

New here? Subscribe here to get my newest prayers by email.
Share the prayer! Email this to a friend.

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Source: Times of Israel/AP

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