ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA OP-ED   ZOA’s Mort Klein Op-Ed: Cancel Culture Even Infects Beautiful Synagogue Prayer for Israel By Morton A. Klein (MARCH 15, 2023 / ISRAEL HAYOM) The Prayer for the State of Israel merely specifically asks for the success of the efforts of the defenders of our holy land. Even if a rabbi dislikes a current Israeli government, his congregation should surely be able to pray for the success of efforts to protect Israel from her enemies. For many decades, during Shabbat services, Conservative movement and Religious Zionist orthodox congregations have recited the heartfelt Prayer for the State of Israel, written by Israel's chief rabbis in 1948. The Conservative movement's Sim Shalom prayer books seem to solely use the prayer's first paragraph. Reconstructionist Jews, in their Kol Haneshamah prayer books, have also adopted the prayer's first paragraph, with minor modifications, and made more modifications to latter portions of the prayer. The prayer's widely-used first paragraph asks God to bless the State of Israel, the first sprouting of our redemption; to shield Israel with God's lovingkindness; to envelope Israel with peace; to bestow light and truth and your good counsel upon Israel's leaders, ministers and advisers; to strengthen the hands of the defenders of our holy land and save them and give them the crown of victory; and to grant peace in the land and eternal happiness to its inhabitants. This is a nonpartisan invocation for Israel's continuing existence and well-being. The prayer doesn't endorse any political party or any government leader or minister. Rather, the prayer beseeches the Almighty to bestow light, truth and good counsel on Israel's leaders and ministers, whomever they may be. It is thus sad and divisive that a few Conservative movement rabbis, including the rabbi of New York City's Congregation Ansche Chesed Jeremy Kalmanofsky, initiated a boycott of this beautiful prayer. Kalmanofsky stated that he is discontinuing having his congregation recite the prayer because he believes that Israel's current leaders are "dastardly" and he doesn't want their efforts to succeed.     READ MORE Share This Email   Founded in 1897, ZOA played a key role in the Jewish State's re-establishment. Today, ZOA is the leading major American Jewish organization courageously defending Israel and the Jewish people; fighting against all forms of antisemitism, including anti-Jewish boycotts; and promoting the Jewish people's lawful right to live in and settle historic Jewish lands. ZOA exposes that a Palestinian state would endanger Israel's existence; presents the facts about the Arab/Islamic war against Israel; and combats the anti-Israel lie that Israel is an "occupier" of her own land. ZOA spearheaded long battles to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and apply civil rights protections to Jewish students. ZOA provides free legal assistance and programs to pro-Israel students at numerous college campuses. ZOA's bold, unapologetic voice has a significant impact on public discourse and policy. DONATE NOW Copyright © Zionist Organization of America 2023, All rights reserved. Zionist Organization of America | 633 Third Ave, 31 B, New York, NY 10017 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]