Posts Tagged ‘prayer after Olympic massacre’

 

For Israel’s 2016 Olympic Athletes

Posted on: August 1st, 2016 by Alden

life-magazine-1972-munich-massacre-israel-coverA prayer for the safety of Israel’s athletes, including a memorial to the victims of the 1972 Munich massacre and the hope for a joyous festival of sport for all nations. The second stanza is modified from my “Munich Massacre Memorial Prayer.” Good luck to the coaches and athletes from around the world.

For Israel’s 2016 Olympic Athletes
G-d of our ancestors,
Watch over Israel’s Olympic athletes
As the 2016 Summer Games in begin in Rio.
Grant them safety and security
So that they may compete
With the fullness of their abilities and skills.
Let them exult in their accomplishments,
Finding their best selves in competition.
Shield them from hostility and venom.
Guard them from the hand of hatred and violence.
Bring them joy and gladness during this festival of international sport.
Let their dedication and dignity serve as a tribute
To the athletes slain during the 1972 Munich Games.

Grant Your protection and shelter
To all who travel under the flag of Israel
In the name of cooperation, understanding and goodwill –
Athletes, musicians, performers, artists and scholars.
May their spirit be a shining light of integrity and honor.
Watch over the defenders of Israel.
Bless them with courage and strength.
Grant the whole house of Israel
Safety throughout the earth.

May the 2016 Summer Games
Be a source of celebration and rejoicing
For spectators and athletes,
For coaches and fans,
For Israel,
For all nations
And for the world.

© 2016 Alden Solovy and  tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: See also “Munich Massacre Memorial Prayer,” “At the Hand of Anti-Semitism,” a Yizkor prayer, and “To the Terrorist,” a prayer of personal resolve to defend ourselves against terror and for healing the sick mind of the terrorist. This prayer first appeared on this site on July 24, 2012.

If you like this prayer, post a link to your Facebook page, your blog or as part of a tweet. And don’t forget to click “like” on this page. Thanks. Please subscribe. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!”

For Israel’s Olympic Athletes

Posted on: July 24th, 2012 by tobendlight

life-magazine-1972-munich-massacre-israel-coverA prayer for the safety of Israel’s athletes, including a memorial to the victims of the 1972 Munich massacre and the hope for a joyous festival of sport for all nations. The second stanza is modified from my “Munich Massacre Memorial Prayer.”

For Israel’s Olympic Athletes
G-d of our ancestors,
Watch over Israel’s Olympic athletes
As the __________ [add year] __________ [Summer, Winter] Games begin
In ____________________ [add city].
Grant them safety and security
So that they may compete
With the fullness of their abilities and skills.
Let them exult in their accomplishments,
Finding their best selves in competition.
Shield them from hostility and venom.
Guard them from the hand of hatred and violence.
Bring them joy and gladness during this festival of international sport.
Let their dedication and dignity serve as a tribute
To the athletes slain during the 1972 Munich Games.

Grant Your protection and shelter
To all who travel under the flag of Israel
In the name of cooperation, understanding and goodwill –
Athletes, musicians, performers, artists and scholars.
May their spirit be a shining light of integrity and honor.
Watch over the defenders of Israel.
Bless them with courage and strength.
Grant the whole house of Israel
Safety throughout the earth.

May the __________ [add year] __________ [Summer, Winter] Games
Be a source of celebration and rejoicing
For spectators and athletes,
For coaches and fans,
For Israel,
For all nations
And for the world.

© 2012 Alden Solovy and  tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: See also “Munich Massacre Memorial Prayer,” “At the Hand of Anti-Semitism,” a Yizkor prayer, and “To the Terrorist,” a prayer of personal resolve to defend ourselves against terror and for healing the sick mind of the terrorist.

If you like this prayer, post a link to your Facebook page, your blog or as part of a tweet. And don’t forget to click “like” on this page. Thanks. Please subscribe. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!”

Munich Massacre Memorial Prayer

Posted on: July 20th, 2012 by tobendlight

olympics-victims-at-munich-gamesHere is a memorial prayer for the 40th anniversary of the Munich massacre. The first stanza includes an allusion to the Eleh Ezkera, the liturgical poem that we will recite in just over a week on Tisha b’Av. The second and third stanzas are influenced strongly by this week’s attack on Israelis in Bourgas, Bulgaria. Also read this prayer “For Israel’s Olympic Athletes.”

Munich Massacre Memorial Prayer
Creator of all,
Source and shelter,
We remember as yesterday
The day of Olympic terror,
The day that our brothers,
Athletes and coaches,
Lost their lives to brutal violence
And our hearts are melting with sorrow.
We remember their joy and their dreams,
Their enthusiasm and their hope,
Their spirit and their valor,
Their love for each other
And their dedication to competition.
Grant them a perfect rest under Your tabernacle of peace.
Grant their families consolation and comfort
For Your Name’s sake
And for the sake of those who perished.

Ancient One,
Remember the virtues all who have
Died at the hand of hatred.
May their memory become our resolve
To protect our land and our people.
Watch over the defenders of Israel.
Bless them with safety and strength.
May their courage never falter.
Grant Your protection and shelter
To all who travel under the flag of Israel
In the name of cooperation, understanding and goodwill –
Athletes, musicians, performers, artists and scholars.
May their spirit be a shining light of integrity and honor.
Grant the whole house of Israel safety throughout the earth
Free from aggression and violence.

G-d of Old,
Shine a light of compassion into the world.
Put an end to malice, anger and fear.
Lead us to a time when no one will suffer at the hand of another,
A time when our people can travel without the threat of terror.
May the memories of those murdered
In the Munich massacre
Be sanctified with joy and love.
May their souls be bound up in the bond of life,
A living blessing in our midst.

© 2012 Alden Solovy and  tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: See also “For Israel’s Olympic Athletes,” “At the Hand of Anti-Semitism,” a Yizkor prayer, and “To the Terrorist,” a prayer of personal resolve to defend ourselves and for healing the mind of the terrorist. Please also read “For the Jews of France,” a prayer for safety and healing. Thanks again to my friend Brenda Epstein who suggested that I write a prayer to mark this anniversary.

If you like this prayer, post a link to your Facebook page, your blog or as part of a tweet. And don’t forget to click “like” on this page. Thanks. Please subscribe. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!”

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