In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.
David Ben Gurion
Dear Families,
Over three decades ago, I was a young rabbinic student in Jerusalem. Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait months before, and the entire world held its breath as the US-led aerial bombardment of Iraq was about to begin. The same day the airstrikes started, Hussein initiated his campaign of Scud missile attacks against Israel. At the time, our greatest fear was chemical weapons, so instead of huddling in our bomb shelters, we sat in sealed rooms with gas masks. For a month, attack after attack of these 750kg missiles flew into Israel. Some of them got through the Patriot anti-missile defense. When they exploded, they flattened entire buildings, yet somehow, not one Israeli died from a Scud missile. It was miraculous, plain and simply miraculous and we all knew it.
This past Saturday night, history seemed to repeat itself, only it was Saddam’s equally malevolent neighbor, Iran. A staggering 360 huge UAVs and ballistic missiles flew towards Israel. We braced for the worst and prayed for the best, trusting that our allies and the IDF’s Iron Dome would protect our citizens. Miraculously, the Iron Dome, which usually has a 90% success rate, had an unbelievable 99% success rate in stopping the wave of missiles from Iran. Though we are all praying for the recovery of our 7-year-old Israeli girl who was hit by shrapnel, it’s miraculous that serious casualties were avoided, and we all know it.
From years of being part of BFL what is not lost on me is the thousands of Israeli soldiers who were and are involved in protecting Israel during these attacks. They are the same soldiers and reservists who have spent the last six months risking their day after day to keep Israel and Jewry worldwide safe. What do they ask for in return? They ask for nothing. What do we owe them for protecting us and our children? We owe them everything.
As we head into Passover to recount the greatest story of redemption in history, please say the two prayers below with your families during your Seder. The first was recently composed by the Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, for the safe return of our hostages who are currently in bondage.
“May it be the will of our Father in Heaven, who took the people of Israel out of the yoke of Egypt, to bless and save our brothers and sisters, the hostages who are held in iron chains, strengthen their souls and faith, protect them from all harm and sickness, have mercy on His sons and daughters who seek His salvation, and annul all cruel decrees. With His great kindness, may He expedite their redemption and speedily take them from darkness to light, and from the abyss of captivity to eternal freedom, and return them safely to their families and homes.”
The second prayer is the official lDF Tefilah for the safety of our soldiers:
May this Shabbat and the celebration of the Passover miracle bring miraculous success and safety to our soldiers, and may they return to their homes together with every one of our hostages in peace.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Pesach Sameach,
Rabbi Chaim Levine, Yaniv Leidner, and the BFL Team