Rebbetzin Gina Goldstein and her daughter Shayna welcoming Shabbat as they light the Shabbat candles.

 

JOHANNESBURG –Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein, founder of the Shabbat Project, an international grassroots movement that brings together Jews from all walks of life and all levels of observance to keep one Shabbat, is urging Jews around the world to come together to light Shabbat candles this week, Oct. 13, in support of Israel – and has shared a prayer to recite, composed specifically for this moment.

 

“Together with my wife, Gina, we offer you our personal prayer, to recite after you light your Shabbat candles this week. 

 

This is a spiritual war by those who seek to destroy Israel not because of its borders but because of what it stands for — the world’s only Jewish state. Our response must be to reaffirm our eternal Jewish values — the spiritual light of Shabbat.

 

At this time of harrowing danger, let us harness the power of lighting Shabbat candles to pray for Israel. Let us pray for the families and children, and for the brave soldiers of the State of Israel. Together, let’s counter the darkness by bringing more light into the world.

 

To find your local candle-lighting time, visit chiefrabbi.co.za. Please share this call and accompanying prayer with your family, friends, and wider community.”

 

Prayer after Shabbat Candlelighting

 

Our God and the God of our forefathers, Rock, and Redeemer of Israel, hear my supplication in the merit of Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah, our mothers, and in the merit of lighting the holy Shabbat candles.

 

Protect and deliver the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces and Security Forces, and all those engaged in saving lives, from all trouble and sorrow. Strengthen their hands and adorn them with the crown of Your salvation and victory.

 

I plead with You, Merciful One, in Your vast Majesty, liberate our captives, speedily deliver them from anguish to relief, and return them home to life and peace.

 

Save our brothers and sisters, our aged, men and women and children all who were wounded at the hands of the cruel enemy. Illuminate your presence for them and send them a complete healing, speedily in our days.

 

God, full of mercy and compassion, provide tranquil rest on the wings of the Divine Presence, for the souls of Your nation, men, women, and children, murdered in cold blood, their blood spilled like water. May their eternal rest be in Gan Eden.

 

Lord, our God, comfort the mourners of Your nation, heal the broken-hearted and bind up their wounds,

 

Turn Your countenance, oh God, to those dwelling in our land, from the border of Lebanon to the Egyptian desert; and spread over them Your shelter of peace, grant them safety, tranquility, and security. Send Your light and truth to the leaders of the State of Israel, her ministers and advisors, and grace them with Your good counsel.

 

Speedily bring your final redemption to the world, when “death will vanish in life eternal”, when You will “wipe away tears from all faces”, when “nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore… and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the oceans.”

 

Amen.

 

תפילה בשעת הדלקת נרות שבת

 

אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֶאֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹאֲלוֹ, אָנָּא שְׁמַע אֶת תְּחִנָּתִי בִּזְכוּת שָׂרָה וְרִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה אִמּוֹתֵינוּ וּבִזְכוּת הַדְלָקַת נֵרוֹת שַׁבַּת קֹדֶשׁ.

 

שְׁמֹר וְהַצֵּל מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה אֶת חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת אַנְשֵׁי כֹּחוֹת הַבִּטָּחוֹן וְהַהַצָּלָה, חַזֵּק אֶת יְדֵיהֶם וְעַטְּרֵם בְּכֶתֶר יְשׁוּעָה וּבַעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחוֹן.

 

אָנָּא רַחוּם, בְּרֹב גְּאוֹנְךָ, שַׁחְרֵר אֶת שְׁבוּיֵינוּ, הוֹצִיאֵם מְהֵרָה מִצָּרָה לִרְוָחָה וְהַחֲזִירֵם הַבַּיְתָה לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלוֹם.

 

הוֹשַׁע אוֹתָם וְאֶת אַחֵינוּ וְאַחְיוֹתֵינוּ, זְקֵנִים וּזְקֵנוֹת, נָשִׁים, אֲנָשִׁים וְטַף, שֶׁנִּפְצְעוּ בִּידֵי הַצּוֹרֵר הָאַכְזָרִי. הָאֵר פָּנֶיךָ אֲלֵיהֶם וּשְׁלַח לָהֶם רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ.

 

אֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, הַמְצֵא מְנוּחָה נְכוֹנָה עַל כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה לְנִשְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי עַמְּךָ, אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים, יְלָדִים וִילָדוֹת, שֶׁנִּרְצְחוּ בְּדָם קַר וְדָמָם נִשְׁפַּךְ כַּמַּיִם בִּידֵי הַצּוֹרְרִים. בְּגַן עֵדֶן תְּהֵא מְנוּחָתָם.

 

נַחֵם ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶת אֲבֵלֵי עַמְּךָ, רְפָא לִשְׁבוּרֵי לֵב וַחֲבֹשׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָם.

 

שָׂא ה’ פָּנֶיךָ אֶל כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי אַרְצֵנוּ, מִגְּבוּל הַלְּבָנוֹן וְעַד מִדְבַּר מִצְרַיִם, וּפְרֹשׂ עֲלֵיהֶם סֻכַּת שָׁלום וְשַׁלְוָה וְהַשְׁקֵט וָבֶטַח, וּשְׁלַח אוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ לְרָאשֵׁי הַמְּדִינָה, לְשָׂרֶיהָ וּלְיוֹעֲצֶיהָ וְתַקְּנֵם בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ.

 

מְהֵרָה תַצְמִיחַ לָנוּ גְאֻלָּה שְׁלֵמָה וְהַרְאֵנוּ בְּקִיּוּם דִּבְרֵי נְבִיאֶךָ: “בִּלַּע הַמָּוֶת לָנֶצַח, וּמָחָה ה׳ אֱלֹהִים דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים“, “לֹא יִשָּׂא גוֹי אֶל גּוֹי חֶרֶב וְלֹא יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה” וּ“מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת אֲדֹנָי כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים“.

 

אָמֵן.

 

 

ABOUT THE CHIEF RABBI: Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein has served as South Africa’s Chief Rabbi since 2005, is a qualified dayan, and a senior member of the National Religious Leaders Council of South Africa. The Chief Rabbi has a doctorate in human rights and constitutional law and is a published author of five books, the most recent of which is Shabbat: A Day to Create Yourself.