Rabbis Call for Partners to Pray and Study for Soldiers

An open letter to all Achenu Bene Yisroel [Our Brethren, the Children of Israel]

After hearing the heart rendering appeal of the Gedolay Torah to intensify our Tefilos and Torah learning during this very trying time for Klal Yisroel, we have undertaken to join and add to their request.

The Medrash Rabah and the Yalkut relate that during the war against Midyan, for every one that went out to battle there was another person whose task it was to pray and learn for him.

We brought this to the Great Gaon and Sage Rebbe Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, and he was delighted, and added that Dovid Hemelech also directed people accordingly. That for every individual who was in combat, there was another person selected whose responsibility was to pray and learn on behalf of the soldier, and therefore these prayers carry the approbation of Dovid HaMelech himself. And with regards to the war with Midyan, it says in the Torah “and no man was lost.”

Therefore we ask everyone who finds himself or herself in danger or in shelters because of the war to email [email protected], or fax 011-972-2-6512950, and give your Hebrew name and mother’s Hebrew name (without any other particulars such as family name or other identifying factors), so that we may give his or her name to someone who takes upon him or herself to add Torah and Tefiloh for the sake of those who request.

Soldiers who would like a partner who will pray on his behalf are also requested to call or e-mail as above.

We further call to all who would like to fulfill the words of our sages and to add Torah and prayer, to join with us in this prayer effort, to contact us as above and receive a name in order to have in mind that the added Torah and prayer be a merit for his friend.

Signed by Rav Levi I. Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe, and Rav Simcha HaKohen Kook, Chief Rabbi of Rechovot

Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Executive VP of the National Council of Young Israel, is taking volunteers here in the States. His email address is plerner at young (don’t-spam-them) israel.org.