As Israel shifts from sorrow to joy, rabbinic group offers new prayer for grieving nation

Every year, as the sun sets on Memorial Day, marking the beginning of Independence Day, Israelis across the country make the emotional transition from mourning to celebration.

Many do so individually, others by attending one of the hundreds of public events organized in squares and synagogues, parks and theaters — although many of these have been canceled this year due to strong winds and huge brush fires raging around the country.

For the past two years, the transition has acquired additional levels of complexity, as the nation continues to struggle with the unprecedented losses of the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, and the ensuing war, while 59 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

In order to support the public grappling with the challenges of the times, this year the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization, which assists Israelis with their religious needs and offers an alternative to the Chief Rabbinate, has drafted a special prayer for the moment.

“We felt a prayer could help the public go through the transition between Memorial Day and Independence Day,” Rabbi Tzachi Lehman told The Times of Israel over the phone. “This moment was always challenging, and in the current reality, it is harder than ever.”

Lehman, a co-founder of Tzohar, drafted the new text, which is available in Hebrew and English.

“Our hearts are awash in both pain and pride,” reads a passage of the prayer. “Pain for the horrific plagues we have endured. Yet pride for the tremendous heroism we have witnessed. And with a broken heart; a heart that still believes in goodness, we extend our hands towards You, that You should fill us and the entire world with comfort and hope, with life and with peace.”

Rabbi Tzachi Lehman, co-founder of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization. (Courtesy)

According to the organization, some 600 rabbis work with Tzohar, and another 1,000 volunteer with the group.

Lehman explained that in order to compose the text, he focused on what he believes unites the country’s public.

“When writing a public prayer, the wisdom lies not in imposing words on people, but in giving voice to their emotions — to what they carry in their hearts,” the rabbi said.

“That’s what I tried to do: to listen to those inner voices,” he added. “At first glance, Israeli voices might seem fractured and divided, but if we look more closely, we see that while there are differences, the deepest longings are remarkably similar.”

Marwa Gadban, sister of fallen soldier Anwar Serhan, by his grave on April 30, 2025, in Hurfeish (Diana Bletter/Times of Israel)

According to Lehman, Israelis share a feeling of profound pain accompanied by the belief that eventually things will be good.

“For this reason, the prayer opens with the words, ‘We come before you with tear-filled eyes and a broken heart, yet believing in goodness,’” he said.

The prayer also focuses on the hostages’ plight.

“Return all of our hostages, heal the wounded, strengthen the unity among us,” it reads.

Despite the difficulties, the rabbi said that it is possible and even necessary to approach Israel’s 77th birthday with joy.

“I believe that not only can we be happy to celebrate Independence Day, we must be happy,” he said. “This does not mean not feeling the pain of our time. Sometimes people think that reality is either black or white, but this is not the case. Reality is multicolored. Life has joy and sorrows, we can hold both.”

Lehman said he has always found transition ceremonies between Memorial Day and Independence Day to be very meaningful.

“My impression is that after October 7, a growing number of people are drawn to them,” he noted.

According to the rabbi, for those who connect with it, prayer can help bring clarity to emotions.

“Prayer helps organize our thoughts and feelings,” Lehman said. “It allows us to acknowledge pain without being overwhelmed by it, making space for hope and optimism.”