Organizational Statements, Prayers In Israel-Iran Military Escalation

Thursday night, Minnesota time, the Israel Defense Forces and Mossad launched an attack on Iran designed to damage the country’s nuclear program and its military leadership. On Friday afternoon (Friday night after Shabbat began in Israel), Iran began its retaliation, launching ballistic missiles at Israel — including population centers of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Throughout Thursday night and Friday, several Twin Cities synagogues and Jewish organizations released statements on the attacks. The list will be updated as statements are received.

Click on an organization to navigate to its statement.

Adath Jeshurun Congregation

We continue to watch, often breathless, the developments in Israel since the airstrikes in Iran. We do what we do best at Adath; come together in community, and support one another. We appreciate the tireless efforts of our Adath security personnel and their collaboration with JCRC and law enforcement.

As loved ones in Israel face dread, many of us feel dread throughout the Jewish world. We pray for the sukkah of shalom to stretch across our families and friends, soldiers and strangers.

We hope and fear and pray. Shomer Yisrael, Guardian of Israel, stretch your sukkah of peace over restless nights and for all the days that will stretch like restless nights.

Or hadash al tzion ta’ir, may a new light dawn soon in Zion, and a light of peace for all. May Shabbat bring a taste of that possibility.

B’virkat shalom, with the blessing of peace

Minneapolis/St. Paul Jewish Federations

The Minneapolis Jewish Federation, St Paul Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Community Relations Council stand with Jewish Federations of North America in unwavering solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel—as we have throughout our shared history—praying for their immediate safety, strength, and well-being, and for the protection of future generations to come as Israel defends itself from Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and other threats posed by the Iranian regime.

Beth El Synagogue

We hold Israel particularly close at this time, and we pray for the safety of everyone impacted and the healing of those injured. We stand together as one people; one community. Our hearts and prayers are with our siblings in Israel. In days ahead we will learn what role we can play. As always, we are available to talk or to listen.

Beth Jacob Congregation

During the celebration of our 40th anniversary last night, sadly we received news that our family and friends in Israel are under new threat following the Israeli military’s attack on Iranian military targets. As we absorb this news and its implications, our thoughts are with all those affected, and we fervently pray for the safety of our family and friends in Israel and for a swift return to calm.
The Mishnah in Pirkei Avot 1:18 asserts:
“The world stands on three things: on justice, on truth, and on peace.” The juxtaposition of these ideals suggests an interplay in which each one is necessary for the other and together they contribute to a stable world. Peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but a sacred ideal achieved with an equal commitment to truth and justice. I pray that those in leadership can find a path towards these ideals speedily and soon.
In light of the increased tensions, we want to assure you that we will have additional security on-site this Shabbat to ensure the safety and peace of mind of all who attend services. We have been in contact with JCRC and the Mendota Heights Police Department to establish communication and ensure extra precautions are in place.
עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו. הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל
May the One who makes peace on high bring peace upon us, upon all Israel, and upon all who dwell on Earth.
With blessings for a Shabbat Shalom, a shabbat of peace

Temple of Aaron

As we enter Shabbat, our hearts and prayers are once again with our family in Israel. We are deeply grateful for the bravery and ingenuity of the soldiers, air force pilots, and intelligence officers who carried out this pre-emptive strike. Early reports suggest that the blow dealt to the Iranian terror regime may prove to be a blessing—not only for Israel, but for the entire world burdened by the terrorist infrastructure led by Iran.
In our Torah portion this week, we read the words that we recite each Shabbat as we open the ark at the beginning of the Torah Service:
וַיְהִ֛י בִּנְסֹ֥עַ הָאָרֹ֖ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֑ה
קוּמָ֣ה ה’ וְיָפֻ֙צוּ֙ אֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ וְיָנֻ֥סוּ מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃
When the Ark was to set out, Moses would say: Advance, O Adonai! May Your enemies be scattered, And may Your foes flee before You!
In our siddur, this verse is immediately followed with the words
כִּי מִצִּיּון תֵּצֵא תורָה. וּדְבַר ה’ מִירוּשָׁלָיִם
בָּרוּךְ שֶׁנָּתַן תּורָה לְעַמּו יִשרָאֵל בִּקְדֻשָּׁתו
For the Torah will come forth from Zion, and the word of the Eternal from Jerusalem. Blessed is the one who gave Torah to [the] people of Israel in holiness.
Our Jewish tradition makes clear–safety from our enemies, the Land of Israel, and Torah are inextricably linked. For 2,000 years, the Jewish people were forced to live with only one of the three–we were exiled from our land, persecuted by our enemies, yet we held fast to the Torah with unwavering faith.
Today, we are living in the time of a miracle, the miracle of the State of Israel. For the first time in two millennia, we are once again able to live fully as Jews: with Torah, with safety, and with Israel.
We in the diaspora have a vital role to play. While we sleep safely in our beds, not awoken by sirens or rushing our children to bomb shelters, our responsibility is to pray–and to stand in solidarity, proclaiming loud and clear in the words of the medieval Jewish poet, Yehudah HaLevi: “לִבִּי בְמִזְרָח וְאָנֹכִי בְּסוֹף מַעֲרָב–my heart is in the East, and I am in the uttermost West.”
Prayer for the IDF
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הֲגַנָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הָעוֹמְדִים עַל מִשְׁמַר אַרְצֵנוּ וְעָרֵי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מִגְּבוּל הַלְּבָנוֹן וְעַד מִדְבַּר מִצְרַיִם וּמִן הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל עַד לְבוֹא הָעֲרָבָה בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בָּאֲוִיר וּבַיָּם. יִתֵּן ה’ אֶת אוֹיְבֵינוּ הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ נִגָּפִים לִפְנֵיהֶם. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִשְׁמֹר וְיַצִּיל אֶת חַיָלֵינוּ מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה וּמִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחֲלָה וְיִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם. יַדְבֵּר שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ תַּחְתֵּיהֶם וִיעַטְרֵם בְּכֶתֶר יְשׁוּעָה וּבַעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחון. וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם הַכָּתוּב: כִּי ה’ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם לְהִלָּחֵם לָכֶם עִם אֹיְבֵיכֶם לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם: וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן:
May the One who blessed our ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah — bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God, from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.
May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Blessed Holy One preserve and rescue our fighters from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness send blessing and success in their every endeavor.
May God lead our enemies under our soldiers’ sway and 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 let us say: Amen.

Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas

The world is a safer place today thanks to Israel’s inevitable strike on the Islamic Republic of Iran, as its ambitions of building a nuclear weapon were nearing the point of no return. Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile stockpiles, and top military commanders.

We are hopeful this bold action will usher in a new era of peace to the Middle East and accelerate the long-overdue liberation of the Iranian people from the grip of their brutal regime. Our hearts are with our sisters and brothers in Israel and with American service members across the Middle East.

Temple Israel

As we enter Shabbat, our hearts are with our brothers and sisters in Israel. This morning, we awoke to the news that Israel had launched a significant military operation targeting nuclear and military sites in Iran. Israel was attacked with drones and missiles as Shabbat began, injuring dozens.

Tonight we will raise our voices together in the Hashkvieinu prayer, asking God to spread over us a “sukkat shlomecha,” a shelter of peace and protection. I invite you to join us for services tonight as we pray with all our hearts for a shelter of peace over Israel, the region, and our world.

In these uncertain and challenging times, I remain grateful for our Temple community, and for our commitment to continuing our sacred traditions l’dor vador, from generation to generation. The unbreakable bond of the Jewish people transcends distance and borders, and remains a source of light, resilience, and hope.

B’virkat shalom – With blessings of peace

Bet Shalom

As we prepare for Shabbat here at Bet Shalom, our hearts are turned towards the situation in Israel following last night’s military action against Iran’s nuclear program. We are thinking of our family, friends and all of Israel at this uncertain time. We pray for peace for the entire region and stand strong together as a community. Please join us tonight for Shabbat services when we will celebrate our rich traditions and support each other.