“Send Your light and truth to all who lead and advise, guiding them with your good counsel. Establish peace in the land and fullness of joy for all who dwell there. Amen.”
—Prayer for the State of Israel
Rarely have the words of our prayer for the State of Israel seemed more prescient or more necessary, as violence, political discord, and civil unrest contribute to a growing sense of concern for the future.
Since the election, protests across the country have been gathering tens of thousands of Israelis. Israelis have been flooding the streets calling for women’s rights, LBGTQ rights, and a renewed path to peace with the Palestinians. This week, over 100,000 people protested outside the Knesset in Jerusalem; a general strike was called over the fear of a change in judicial control. As an Israeli colleague said recently, “The crisis is not looming, it is here.” President Isaac Herzog suggested that the plan to overhaul the judicial system has resulted in the country being on the verge of “societal and constitutional collapse.”
Meanwhile, enmity between Israelis and Palestinians has given way to violence once again. New and ever more heartbreaking acts of terror and bloodshed are once again being visited upon innocents, acts that must be rejected unequivocally.
As we pray for the safety and security of our people’s ancient home, we express our hopes that Israel will continue to serve, as it has since its birth, as a beacon of democracy committed to safeguarding the lives and liberties of its citizens and its neighbors. May there be fruitful dialogue among leaders resulting in a just and appropriate future for Israel and all living within her borders.
To read more about Wise and the State of Israel, please visit our Israel resource page.
