Israel needs our prayers. The Orthodox Union of Congregations has asked that each of us recite a prayer for Israel daily. I think it would be nice if our Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center family responded.
The following prayer, which is contained in our prayer book, was composed by the two chief Rabbis of Israel (Ashkenazi Rabbi Isaac HaLevy Herzog and Rishond Zion Rabbi Hai Uziel). Some claim that the initial draft was authored by the great Hebrew writer and essayist Shai Agnon. The prayer is not without controversy, especially the phase that states that the creation of the State of Israel marks the "dawn of our deliverance." This phrase is based on a letter that Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook wrote to Lord Rothschild upon receiving me Balfour Declaration in which he viewed the fledgling State as "reshit tsemihat yeshuatenu," the first flowering of our salvation. As a result, our Conservative prayer book "Sim Shalom" has substituted for "dawn of deliverance" me words "promise of redemption." While "deliverance" reflects divine intervention, the work "redemption" points to a transformation in the status of Jews from homeless to statehood.
In my opinion, either of these thoughts are beautiful. Certainly we recognize the miraculous nature of the founding of the State of Israel. Our people came from near extinction to create their own State, free of anti-Semitism and not subject to the whim of foreign domination. Surely G-d must have bad a hand in this utterly amazing accomplishment. At the same time, Israel's future as a haven for oppressed people everywhere signals a new period for Jews worldwide in which Jews oppressed in Russia, Ethiopia, Argentina, etc., can escape and participate in building an even better place for Jews to live. In this sense, the hard work of me Jewish people has as much to do with Israel's growth as does me Almighty.
In our tradition, we and G-d are partners in me betterment of me Jewish people Yes, we rely on G-d to help us through difficult periods of Jewish history. On the other hand, we don't rely on miracles before responding to change our destiny. So, you select me phrase that best resonates with you: