An initiative is searching for to ask Jews worldwide to recite a newly drafted Hanukkah prayer for hostages, October 7 victims, and IDF troopers, Tzohar Rabbinical Organization chairman and founder Rabbi David Stav advised The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
The particular prayer composed by Rabbi Yuval Cherlow in a collaboration between Tzohar and the Atid Le’Otef Movement is directed at praying for these impacted by the Hamas-led bloodbath and the following warfare, benefiting from the chance introduced by what Stav mentioned was a convention that the hour of the Hanukkah candle lighting was one through which prayers and requests obtained extra consideration by God.
Hanukkah prayer
“Our Father in Heaven. Amidst the sunshine of the Hanukkah candles that may illuminate Jewish houses and reveal the miracle of your presence in our world and recall the energy and heroic spirit of the Maccabees, and the salvation of the victory of these days,” reads the prayer.
“We come and plead earlier than you that you’ll equally convey mild to all those that stay trapped in darkness: To all of the captives imprisoned in tunnels of darkness and are desperately searching for salvation and return to their houses. To all their households and those that want for his or her security and welfare, whereas darkish shadows proceed to fill their worlds.
“To all those that have been compelled out of their houses, whereas their hearts and houses stay darkish. To all of the bereaved households whose lives have been completely darkened. And all those that have been injured in physique and spirit. Hashem, please fill your world with mild! And fulfill for us that which is written: ‘A brand new mild will shine upon Zion, and we are going to all rapidly advantage its mild.’”
Atid Le’Otef Movement CEO Ehud Cohen mentioned the 2024 vacation wouldn’t be as joyful as prior to now since Jews wanted to proceed to recollect the hostages held in captivity by Hamas in Gaza.
“The residents of the ‘Gaza envelope’ name on all of Israel throughout this vacation so as to add this particular prayer to the standard prayer,” Cohen mentioned in a press launch. “Full rehabilitation of the Gaza border area won’t ever be doable with out the return of the hostages.”
Stav defined that the vacation was about hope – and religion within the capability to beat issue.
“This prayer is a collective name for all of us so as to add extra mild, with the hope that it’ll convey salvation, consolation, and a protected return house for all these residing in darkness,” Stav mentioned.
“Most essential is that we present that regardless of these challenges we’re all united for the victory of our troopers and the protected return to their houses and households alongside all of the hostages.”
The rabbi additionally advised the Post that Hanukkah was a celebration of God’s miracles, and through a vacation commemorating the victories in opposition to the Seleucid Empire, one couldn’t ignore the victories achieved throughout the present warfare, comparable to the numerous injury carried out to Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities.
“We don’t take it with no consideration, we need to specific our gratitude to Hashem,” mentioned Stav.
Stav additionally mentioned he believed the prayer could be of great curiosity to the Jewish folks past Israel’s borders, as it could do good for the victims of October 7 and the warfare to know that their Jewish brethren had been pondering of their well-being.
“I believe that the primary factor that connects the folks of Israel in tough hours is prayer for a greater future,” Stav mentioned.
