Pray for Israel
Prayer for the Israel Defense Forces
Originally written by the first Chief Military Rabbi, Major General Shlomo Goren, during the re-establishment of the state of Israel, the traditional Prayer for the Israel Defense Forces is recited in most synagogues on Shabbat and holidays. The text directly references Deuteronomy 28:7, Psalm 47:3 and Deuteronomy 20:4. The English version below has been adjusted for those living outside of Israel.
In English
May He who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over the holy land and the cities of our God, from the border of the Lebanon to the Egyptian desert, and from the Mediterranean Sea to the edge of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and at sea.
May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise against Israel to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue Israel’s soldiers from every trouble and distress and from every disease and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.
May He lead our enemies under our soldiers’ sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. Let the verse be fulfilled by them that says: For it is the Lord, your God, who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you. Amen.
In Hebrew
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הֲגַנָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הָעוֹמְדִים עַל מִשְׁמַר אַרְצֵנוּ וְעָרֵי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מִגְּבוּל הַלְּבָנוֹן וְעַד מִדְבַּר מִצְרַיִם וּמִן הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל עַד לְבוֹא הָעֲרָבָה בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בָּאֲוִיר וּבַיָּם. יִתֵּן ה’ אֶת אוֹיְבֵינוּ הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ נִגָּפִים לִפְנֵיהֶם. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִשְׁמֹר וְיַצִּיל אֶת חַיָלֵינוּ מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה וּמִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחֲלָה וְיִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם. יַדְבֵּר שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ תַּחְתֵּיהֶם וִיעַטְרֵם בְּכֶתֶר יְשׁוּעָה וּבַעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחון. וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם הַכָּתוּב: כִּי ה’ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם לְהִלָּחֵם לָכֶם עִם אֹיְבֵיכֶם לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם: וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.
