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A Prayer for the State of Israel

On the last day of this summer’s Rabbinic Torah Study Seminar, after the onset of the latest hostilities between Israel and Hamas, Shalom Hartman Institute President Donniel Hartman wrote and read a special prayer as his goodbye to the program’s rabbis

Click on this image to read the entire prayer
in the original Hebrew
On the last day of this summer’s Rabbinic Torah Study Seminar at the Hartman Institute’s Jerusalem campus, after the onset of the latest hostilities between Israel and Hamas, Shalom Hartman Institute President Donniel Hartman read this special prayer that he had composed as his farewell blessing to the more than 120 rabbis in the program.
 
By DONNIEL HARTMAN
 
May it be Your will, our God and God of our fathers,
To lead us in peace and direct our steps in peace,
To guide us in peace, and support us in peace.
To help us reach our destination alive, joyful, and peacefully,
 
Let us return home in peace.
Save us from every enemy and ambush,
From robbers and wild beasts on the way,
And from all disasters
that rage and come to the world.
 
Ribono shel Olam,
Our path is fraught with  dangers,
Some inflicted upon our world by others.
Our world is full of enemies, adversaries and thieves
Who labor to harm us and wish us ill.
 
Ribono shel Olam,
Bless the defenders of our nation,
Our children, friends, and families.
Lead them in peace, march them in peace,
Bless them with peace, and let return home b’shalom.
 
Ribono shel Olam,
Our path is fraught with danger,
Some the result of our own doing.
There are adversaries amongst our people who harm our future
And distort our identity and our values.
 
Ribono shel Olam,
Here you cannot save us.
You know well t hat these adversaries speak in Your name,
Quote your teachings and adhere to Your commandments,
But desecrate Your holy name.
 
Ribono shel Olam,
You have taught us that every human being
Is created in the image of God
But You also taught us that You love us most
From amongst the nations.
 
You have taught us to love the stranger as one of our citizens,
But You also taught us to show favor to our brother.
You taught us to not take vengeance
Nor to bear a grudge,
But You also taught us that
You are the God of vengeance and You bear grudge.
 
Ribono shel Olam,
Building  the national home of the Jewish people
Takes us on a dangerous path.
To safely reach our destination,
We must declare war on some of our tradition’s values,
So that the values which represent
The best of our tradition will prevail.
 
In this path we cannot  rely on your kindness,
It is upon us to bear the responsibility
For our actions and our tradition.
 
We must pave the path
Which not only will lead us in peace,
But is peace itself, as it is written:
"And all her paths are paths of peace."
 
May it be your will,
That we walk together
For peace, mercy, grace, and compassion,
And that we all reach our destination b’shalom.
 
May it be Your will, Amen.

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