Letter 317

[Prayer for the defense of Israel]

"For behold — Your enemies — our enemies — take counsel together — they rage. And our haters have lifted their head. Against Your people they take cunning counsel — and conspire against us to destroy us. They say: Come — let us cut them off from the earth — and the name of Israel will be remembered no more. Make them like a tumbleweed before the wind — like a flame that sets mountains ablaze — so pursue them with Your storm (and with Your whirlwind). And with Your heroism confound them. Fill their faces with shame (and may they seek Your name, Hashem) — and they will be ashamed and confounded and perish forever. And all the nations will know that You alone are Hashem — Most High over all the earth." [Psalms 83] May Hashem grant a crown of grace and honor and greatness and victory — to the IDF — who go wholeheartedly — with all their heart — through fire and through water. And who give their souls and their homes for the people of Israel and the Land of Israel. For Hashem Yisburach glories in them and performs miracles for their sake. May Hashem show them His kindness — and His salvation grant to them — to save them from the hand of their enemies… Who loves them in every single limb — and saves them. "Why, Hashem, do You reject our soul — do You hide Your face from us? They surround us like water all day long — they have encircled us together. Your people, Hashem, they crush — and Your inheritance they afflict, etc. Hashem will not forsake His people — and His inheritance He will not abandon, etc. May Hashem be for us a stronghold, etc. Do not be far from us — hasten to our help. May those who seek the evil of my soul be ashamed and consumed — let those who seek my harm be clothed with shame and disgrace," etc. [Psalms 94, 71]