In a show of support for the people of Israelâand, in particular, for the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forcesâhundreds of men, women and children participated in a prayer gathering at the Central Synagogue in Sydney, Australia.
It was chaired by the synagogueâs chief minister and spiritual head, Rabbi Levi Wolff.
Psalms were read by two-dozen rabbis representing congregations throughout Sydney, followed by words of inspiration from Rabbi Yoram Ulman, president of the Rabbinical Council of New South Wales. Rabbinical Council Vice President Rabbi Eli Feldman of Chabad told stories of faith and success from the frontlines of Israelâs war with Hamas in Gaza.
Israelâs chief Ashkenazi rabbi, Rabbi David Lau, served as the main speaker via Skype from Jerusalem. He thanked everyone for coming together on Israelâs behalf at this critical time and shared teachings from the Torah. He is also planning to take completed mitzvah cards, which were handed out at the gathering and will be sent to Israel, and have them placed in the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Next came a memorial prayer for those killed in the war, followed by the singing of âAcheinu,â led by Rabbi and Chazzan Chaim Ingram, honorary secretary of the Rabbinical Council.
The evening concluded with the reciting of the Mi Shebeirach (healing) prayer for the injured by Central Synagogue Chazzan Rabbi Yehuda Niasoff, as well as a special invocation of Divine blessing for Israeli soldiers.
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