War Inspires Unprecedented Prayer Phenomenon in Israel

Dr. Yoel Rappel, a scholar of prayer and Jewish history at Bar-Ilan University, has compiled prayers written by Israelis from all walks of life during the "Swords of Iron" War in his new book, "Prayer as a Cry." Rappel describes this outpouring of prayer as an unprecedented phenomenon in Jewish history and the history of Israel's wars, reflecting a profound societal schism.

Hundreds of prayers were penned by religious and secular, Sephardi and Ashkenazi, kibbutz and city dwellers, young and old. Rappel views these prayers, written during times of crisis, not only as expressions of faith and distress but also as historical documents. He likens the prayer book to "the history book of the people of Israel," capturing the nation's experiences.

The book includes diverse prayers, such as one by Dr. Hagai Stern, a physician at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, which connects the High Priest's Temple service to IDF soldiers. It also features a prayer by the late Esther Shamir, who adapted the song "Eli Eli" into a plea for the hostages' return, first performed at Hostages Square. Michael Zetz penned a prayer expressing a longing for pre-war normalcy, while Rabbi Elhanan Nir questions the need for "new Torah" in the wake of the war's devastation.

Rappel highlights that these texts are not solely about salvation or victory but also articulate the national and religious rupture caused by the conflict. He sees these prayers as evidence of deep societal change, with his book aiming to document this transformation through the prayers born from the war.

Ultimately, Rappel considers the collection of hundreds of these texts, from both religious and secular voices, front lines and home front, a testament to a defining period. He concludes that "every prayer is a document" that testifies to and portrays a specific situation.