Are you feeling a little down?
It’s okay to feel that way sometimes. It’s normal to get tired of the world and want to take a break. But if you feel like you need a little extra help right now, then try this Hebrew prayer for peace.
It will help you find your center and remind you that there is always something bigger than yourself out there—and it is always worth fighting for.
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In a world often marred by conflict and chaos, the longing for peace resonates deep within the hearts of individuals and communities. For those who turn to the Hebrew Scriptures, a profound prayer emerges—a timeless invocation for peace. In this blog post, we explore the beauty and significance of the Hebrew prayer for peace, understanding its roots, and embracing its universal message.
Shalom: Embracing the Hebrew Prayer for Peace
Shalom: More than a Word, a Concept:
The Hebrew word for peace, “Shalom,” extends beyond a mere absence of conflict. It encompasses a holistic sense of well-being, harmony, and completeness. Shalom invites individuals to seek not only the cessation of strife but the flourishing of every aspect of life—physical, emotional, and spiritual.
The Source: Psalms and Prophets:
The Hebrew Bible, particularly in the Psalms and the words of the prophets, echoes the fervent plea for peace. In Psalms 122:6, we find the admonition to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” The prophets, such as Isaiah, envision a future characterized by universal peace, where nations will “beat their swords into plowshares” (Isaiah 2:4).
The Blessing of Aaron: A Prayer for Harmony:
Among the most cherished expressions of the Hebrew prayer for peace is the “Birkat Kohanim” or the Blessing of Aaron found in Numbers 6:24-26. This blessing, recited by the priests, seeks the favor and protection of the Divine, asking for grace, kindness, and, above all, peace.
Transcending Boundaries: A Universal Message:
While rooted in the Jewish tradition, the Hebrew prayer for peace holds a universal message that transcends religious and cultural boundaries. The longing for harmony and well-being is a shared human experience, and the words of this prayer resonate with individuals of diverse backgrounds who yearn for a world where all can live in tranquility.
Incorporating Shalom into Daily Life:
Embracing the Hebrew prayer for peace involves more than reciting ancient words; it’s a call to embody peace in daily life. Whether through acts of kindness, reconciliation, or efforts to promote justice, individuals can become vessels through which the spirit of Shalom flows into the world.
The Power of Intention:
When reciting the Hebrew prayer for peace, intention matters. Taking a moment to reflect on the words and sincerely desiring peace for oneself and others can deepen the impact of the prayer. It becomes a personal and communal commitment to fostering a world where the echoes of Shalom reverberate.
Hebrew Prayer For Peace
As Reform Jews, we stand strongly together with our brothers and sisters in Israel. Over the past 48 hours, Hamas has launched a massive barrage of rocket fire on southern and central Israel. At last report, six Israeli civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands more – from Tel Aviv to Beersheba –are confined to bomb shelters. Innocent civilians in Gaza have fallen victim to this latest round of violence as well. Furthermore, the rapid escalation of violence within Israel’s own borders between Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel is a new, and deeply troubling, development. We pray that calm will be restored soon.
The situation is rife with complexity and nuance. It is laden with multiple layers of history, generations of grieving mothers and fathers, of children who grew up only knowing conflict and war. The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, sharing the wisdom of Hebrew University philosopher Moshe Halbertal, helps us understand how we got to this tragic moment: “The tinder was a collision of ‘sacred times’ and ‘sacred territories.'”
Linking this latest conflagration to Ramadan, the Muslim observance of Laylat al-Qadr, Yom Y’rushalayim, or the protests over evictions of Palestinian residents of Sheikh Jarrah is insufficient. Whatever the confluence of events to be the casus belli, let me simplify the issue at hand:
Israel deserves to live as a free nation in its own land. That right is being threatened now by terrorists who are instilling terror in Jews and Palestinians alike. Israel does not want to enter Gaza, nor does it want to punish innocent Palestinians. It does, however, have an obligation to protect its citizens and must eradicate the source of rocket fire from deep within the most densely populated area in the world.
The ongoing incitement by both Palestinian and Israeli extremists is pushing the prospect of a two-state solution further and further out of reach. Nevertheless, we must remain committed to the goal of the Palestinian people living with dignity and peace in their own state.
At this moment, those of us who live in the West and whose hearts are in the East mourn the loss of life, feel the pain of all who are cowering in fear, and send our prayers and wishes for an end to the violence and for quiet to be restored.
As Rabbi Nico Sokolovsky wrote:
“We pray for the wounded,
We pray for the mourners,
We pray for our security forces,
We pray for the restoration of normality.U’fros aleinu sukkat shlomecha, cover us with the shelter of Your peace, may we have the courage to denounce violence and destructiveness, and may we become partners in building that shelter of peace.”
As we pray for peace, we offer these words to be read in your congregations and gatherings today and on this Shabbat:
Excerpted from “Prayer for the Peace of the State of Israel”
by Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit-Halachmi
(English Translation with Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi, Ph.D.)
אֲנָא, בְּכֹחַ גְדוּלַת יְמִינֶךָ,
פְּרֹוס עַל מְגִינֵּי אַ רְצֵנּו אֶת סוּכַּת שְׁלֹומֶךָ
שַׂא כַּפְךָ עֲלֵיהֶם וְהַצִּילֵם, מִכֹּל צַר וְאֹורֵב
ומִכֹּל קָלִיעַ מְבַקֵּשׁ נַפְשָׁם.
תֵּן בָּהֶם עֹז וָלֵב, לְהַבְחִין בֵּין אוֹיֵב וְאוֹהֵב
בֵּין בְּנֵי בְּלִיָּיעָל לְּבֵין בְּנֵי אַבְרָהָם.
אֲנָא, בְּכֹחַ גְדוּלַת יְמִינֶךָ,
שְׁמוֹר עַל מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, בֵּית חַיֵּינוּ מִקֶּדֶם,
לְמַעַן נַגְדִיל שִמְךָ בֵּין כֹּל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם,
אֲנָא בְּכֹחַ ,
אֲנָא, בְּלִי כֹחַ,
בְּלִי כֹּחַ.
Ana, b’cho-ach g’dulat y’minecha,
P’ros al m’ginei artzeinu et sukkat sh’lomecha,
Sa kaf’cha aleihem v’hatzileim, mikol tzar v’oreiv
Umikol kalia m’vakeish nafsham.
Tein bahem oz v’leiv, l’havchin bein oyeiv v’oheiv
Bein B’nei B’liyaal l’vein B’nei Avraham.
Ana, b’choach g’dulat y’minecha,
Sh’mor al M’dinat Yisrael, beit chayeinu mikedem,
L’maan nagdil Shimcha bein kol ba-ei olam,
Ana b’cho-ach,
Ana bli cho-ach,
Bli ko-ach.
“…Please, with the great force of Your right hand,
Spread over the protectors of our land the canopy of Your peace, Lift Your hand over them, save them from all enemy and ambush, from all bullets that threaten their souls.
Given them strength and heart, to distinguish between enemy and lover between the people of wickedness and the people of Abraham.
Please, with the great force of Your right hand,
Guard the state of Israel, our eternal homeland.
For the sake of exalting Your name among all the inhabitants of the world,
Please with force,
Please
without use of force.”
Conclusion:
As we navigate the complexities of our contemporary world, the Hebrew prayer for peace remains a timeless and resonant guide. In the utterance of “Shalom,” we find not only a linguistic expression but a profound aspiration—a call to envision and actively work towards a world where well-being, harmony, and completeness reign. May the echoes of this ancient prayer inspire us to become ambassadors of peace, contributing to the transformation of our communities and the world at large.