As we anxiously watch the news, worrying about our friends, family and everyone else we don't directly know - we must remember that there is a greater power watching out for every one of us. Sometimes it's hard to remember G-d, since we are used to believing that we hold our fate in our own hands - but we must.
There is a push on Facebook to make this Shabbat, Friday, November 23, 2012, a "Worldwide Shabbat Observance for protection of Israeli military and civilians" - and I think it's a great idea. As the FB page mentions - Shabbat is a source of blessing. We certainly need G-d's blessing now.
Learn about Shabbat at Aish.com and at Chabad.org.
Here's one thing to make sure your thoughts are focused.
It's the Official PRAYER FOR THE SOLDIERS OF THE IDF
תפילה לשלום חיילי צה"ל
"מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבותֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקב ואמותינו שרה רבקה רחל ולאה, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הֲגַנָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הָעומְדִים עַל מִשְׁמַר אַרְצֵנוּ וְעָרֵי אֱלהֵינוּ מִגְּבוּל הַלְּבָנון וְעַד מִדְבַּר מִצְרַיִם וּמִן הַיָּם הַגָּדול עַד לְבוא הָעֲרָבָה בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בָּאֲוִיר וּבַיָּם. יִתֵּן ה` אֶת אויְבֵינוּ הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ נִגָּפִים לִפְנֵיהֶם. הַקָּדושׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִשְׁמר וְיַצִּיל אֶת חַיָלֵינוּ מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה וּמִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחְלָה וְיִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם. יַדְבֵּר שׂונְאֵינוּ תַּחְתֵּיהֶם וִיעַטְרֵם בְּכֶתֶר יְשׁוּעָה וּבְעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחון. וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם הַכָּתוּב: כִּי ה` אֱלהֵיכֶם הַהלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם לְהִלָּחֵם לָכֶם עִם איבֵיכֶם לְהושִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם: וְנאמַר אָמֵן"
May the One who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah, bless the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand watch over our land and the cities of our God, from the Lebanese border to the desert of Egypt and from the great sea to the verge of the wilderness, on land, in the air, and at sea. May Adonai cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One save and spare our soldiers from all forms of woe and distress, of affliction and illness, and invest their every action with blessing and success. May the Holy One lead our enemies under our soldiers' sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: “For it is the Lord your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.”
And together we say: Amen.
If you are unable to keep the whole of Shabbat yet, I have a few suggestions:
* Give tzedakah (charity) before Shabbat begins on Friday evening.
* Light Shabbat candles.
* Turn off your electronics for a period of time on Shabbat - five minutes or five hours - your cellphone is included :)
* Say the prayer for the IDF and think about the unity of the Jewish People.
May we see real peace in the Land of Israel soon.
