A Prayer for Israel -- CHRONICLE Online/The WORD 06/12/25

Weekly On-line Rabbi's D'var-Torah

June 12, 2025

16 Sivan 5785

Parashat Beha'alotecha

Maybe, it was meant to be that we were running late with our weekly email today.  It gives me the opportunity to respond to what’s going in Iran right now.

Growing up, my Israeli cousin worked for Menachem Begin.  In 1976, the future prime minister came to Detroit in order to give a speech at the Detroit Economic Club, and I was lucky enough to meet him.

I was thinking of him as I heard the news of Israel’s air strikes against Iran.  It was Menachem Begin who – as prime minister – gave the final approval to destroy Iraq’s nuclear reactor in 1981.  As Ecclesiastes taught centuries ago, “There is nothing new under the sun.”

In any event, there is a quote attributed to Menachem Begin shortly after that successful military attack.  It may be apocryphal, but I love it nonetheless:

“I’ll share a personal secret with you.  Whenever I have to choose between saving the lives of our children or getting the approval of the Security Council and all those other fair-weather friends, I much prefer the former.  But keep that to yourselves.”

Iran has been attacking Israel through its proxies for years, sending thousands upon thousands of rockets indiscriminately into Israel.  This response to Iran’s agression is long overdue as far as I’m concerned.

And so, please join me in saying a prayer for Israel:

Avinu She-bashamayim – Rock and Redeemer of the people

Israel: Bless the State of Israel, with its promise of redemption.

Shield it with Your love; spread over it the shelter of your peace.

Guide its leaders and advisors with Your light and Your truth.

Help them with Your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of

those who defend our Holy Land. Deliver them; crown their

efforts with triumph. Bless the land with peace, and its

inhabitants with lasting joy. And let us say: Amen.

Shalom (and I mean it!),

RAF.