🕎 Seventh Night: For the Land/State of Israel

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By Rabbi Reuven Hammer, Jerusalem, Israel

Tzur Yisrael V'Goalo – Rock and Redeemer of Israel –

As we kindle the lights of Hanukkah – tonight reaching the sacred number seven – the flames in our hanukiyah merge with the seven that burned each evening in the ancient Menorah the Maccabees rekindled at this time in ancient days. That was the 'eternal flame' symbolizing Your Eternal Presence in this world, a Presence that is felt with even greater intensity in the land of our ancestors, restored to us once again.

As You were with our ancestors in their struggle for religious freedom against those who sought to destroy Judaism from within and without, so be with us as we too defend our right to life freely as Jews within our own land and throughout the world. May the community of Israel dwelling in the Land of Israel come to embody once again the great ideals Judaism has taught to all humanity – the sacredness of all human beings created in the image of God, the love of the stranger, the care for the needy and above all the vision of universal peace so that the sound of war may vanish from our land and and the clash of arms be heard no more. Amen

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1. This is my favorite one of the series.

Rabbi Hammer was one of the founders and leaders of the Masorti movement in Israel and a leading scholar in the Jewish world.

Like a lot of the prayers I've been posting for Hanukkah, it reads like it written recently but it was written some years ago. The times change, but Jewish values stay the same.

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2. I have enjoyed reading your posts. I am not of the Jewish faith

But always knew the story of Hanukkah..the basics, I mean. The prayers offered are inspiring and yes, timely. 🙏