“וּפְרֹשׂ עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ”

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַפּוֹרֵשׂ סֻכַּת שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלָיִם.

“Blessed are You, Adonai, who spreads a shelter of peace over us, over all of God’s People Israel, and over Jerusalem.” 
Dear Friends,

As sirens blare over Jerusalem tonight, we are all following with great concern and fear as Iran launched a strike with over 200 drones and missiles against Israel. This is the first such attack on Israel from a sovereign nation since scud missiles were fired at Israel from Iraq in 1991. Thankfully the Israel Defense Forces (and the Iron Dome System) and the Jordanian air force successfully intercepted the missiles.

As Reform Zionists, we send our complete support for and solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel. We also express our gratitude to the United States armed forces and other allies who are helping defend our beloved State of Israel.

We are asking for everyone to join us in praying for the safety and well-being of everyone in Israel and encourage us to do the following:

1. Reach out to friends, family members, former shlichim/ot, partnership congregations and members of our Reform Movement, and all others in Israel to let them know you are with them.

2. Send emails and/or call your elected officials to encourage them to support Israel at this critical moment.

3. Thank President Biden for his support and encourage him to stay strong and united with Israel.

4. Meet and speak with your students in congregations on Sunday morning to help synthesize and understand what this attack on the State of Israel means.

With thoughts and hopes for a more peaceful time,

Rabbi Josh Weinberg

Please see the following prayer which is available for your use:

As the Moments Drone On: A Prayer for Protection
By Rabbi Paul Kipnes

Oseh Hashalom,
Maker of Peace,
Be with us all now – our siblings in Israel, our people around the world, all people who seek peace and strive to pursue it.

Is this what it was like
As our Israelite ancestors awaited
The arrival of the angel of death,
Did they too feel anxious and unsure,
Even though they too had been assured
That by marking the doorposts of their houses, That angel of death would pass over them?
That they would survive
And thrive?

Did they worry that Magein Avraham,
The shield of Abraham
Might fail to protect them?
Were they concerned that Ezrat Sarah,
The One who helped Sarah
Might be unable to help them through?

As the hours droned on
Before the exodus from Egypt,
Were our ancestors worried,
That the matzah they made
Might not hold off the hunger
of fearful night after fearful night?
That the darkness that descended
Might not dissipate,
disallowing them to see
With confidence and clarity
The hope we hope is ahead?

Makor Hachayim,
Source of Life,
who values life,
Spread your Sukkat Shalom,
Your shelter of peace,
Over us, over all Israel and
Over all the world.
And together we say,
Amen.