Families of Injured Israeli Soldiers Call for Continued Prayers

Jewish communities around the world are uniting in prayer for the complete recovery of civilians and soldiers injured since the beginning of Israel’s almost three-week-old offensive against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Menachem Kutner, who has been delivering letters penned by concerned people across the globe as part of Chabad.org’s and local Chabad House’s “Show Your Solidarity” campaign, reports that soldiers’ families are encouraged by the outpouring of support. On top of the care packages and letters, they’ve requested that more and more people keep Israelis on the front lines and the home front in their prayers.

“Our constant goal is to encourage and strengthen the spirit of injured soldiers and civilians,” says Kutner, director of Chabad’s Terror Victims Project.

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All told, Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and rabbinical students are making round-the-clock visits to soldiers being treated at Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva, Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon and Tel Aviv’s Tel Hashomer hospital.

Worldwide Support

In Hungary, Jewish community members gathered at the Keren-Or Chabad Israeli Center to learn Torah and pray for the injured. Rabbi Shmuel Raskin, the center’s director, emphasized to the participants the power each individual has to increase in their Torah learning, prayer and performance of good deeds.

Meanwhile in Chicago, Jewish families attended a special prayer service Tuesday afternoon that was called after three institutions – including the local Chabad-Lubavitch rabbinical yeshiva – were defaced with anti-Israel graffiti. The gathering came exactly a week after another service held in nearby Peoria that coincided with a fast day commemorating the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 425 B.C.E.

Last week, residents of Philadelphia also joined to pray for the welfare of Israel’s soldiers and civilian population at a downtown park.

According to Kutner, families are moved every time they hear that Jews half a world away are reciting Psalms and praying on their behalf. (For a list of suggested Psalms to recite during times of distress, click here.)

“In the name of all the soldiers, the civilians and their family members,” says Kutner, “continue with prayers for their full and speedy recovery.”

The Hebrew names of soldiers injured since the beginning of Operation Cast Lead include Aharon Yehoshua ben Chaya Shoshana, Noam ben Eliza, Liyal Hoshea ben Miriam, Ben ben Netiva, Yosef Chaim ben Ziva, Mor Mordechai ben Orana, Moshe ben Chana Malka, Dvir ben Leah, Refael Ben Dina, Neria ben Rivka, Oren ben Ilana, Ronen Chai ben Leah, Ron ben Chavatzelet, Eitan ben Sara, Gal ben Chedva, Ran ben Meryl, Pinchas Yair ben Yocheved, Netanel ben Fanny, Idan ben Nady, Nechemia Sholom DovBer ben Arlene, Yitzchak ben Nava, Ohad ben Bracha, Netanel ben Nava, Geva ben Avital, Rotam ben Leah, Or ben Rachel, Itai ben Rinat, Ron ben Bilha, Moshe ben Dina, Maxim ben Olga, Eran ben Bat Sheva, Avishai ben Miriam, Yisrael ben Ilana, Yoad Ido ben Frieda Rivka, Idan ben Liora, Nadav ben Maria, Sagi ben Osnat, Omer ben Dorit, Lior ben Mazal, Yivgani ben Elizabeta, Chaim Moshe Naftali ben Rut Raizel, and Shachaf ben Dalia.

Four civilians also remain hospitalized after Palestinian rockets slammed into their towns: Gavriel ben Sara, Yaakov ben Rivka, Bat-El Hila bat Fibi, and Gila bat Odelia.