Chief rabbis to join Christian, Muslim, Druze leaders in interfaith prayer

Religious figures to recite special prayer for victims of coronavirus pandemic and in light of rising anti-Semitism, racism across globe

By ToI Staff 22 April 2020, 11:50 am Edit

Illustrative: Greek Orthodox patriarch Theophilos III (L), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau (2nd-L), then President-elect Reuven Rivlin (C), Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Muafek Tarif (2nd-R), and Union of Imams in Israel leader Sheikh Muhammad Kiwan, during a meeting of religious leaders at the offices of the Chief Rabbinate in Jerusalem, on July 9, 2014. (Flash90)

Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Druze religious leaders in Israel were set to hold an interfaith virtual prayer Wednesday afternoon amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Chief rabbis Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau will join Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, imams Sheikh Jamal al-Ubra and Sheikh Aqeel al-Atrash, and Druze leader Sheikh Muafak Tarif to pray for the victims of the pandemic.

They will recite a prayer “that was worded specially in light of the situation,” according to a statement from the event’s organizers.

Besides the COVID-19 outbreak, which the statement noted has “affected the nations of the world and all [religious] communities,” the prayer was also being held due to rising anti-Semitism and racism across the globe.

The prayer will be recorded and broadcast from the King David Hotel in Jerusalem at 3 p.m. and can be watched live here.

Following is the prayer that is to be recited:

God of the first and of the last, God of all Creatures, Lord of all generations, He arouses those who sleep and awakens those who slumber, He heals the sick, opens the eyes of the blind and raises those who are bowed down. We come before you with a bowed head, and with bent stature, and plead.

Hundreds of thousands died, millions have fallen sick. Save, we beseech thee, O Lord. We entreat thee, O Lord, send prosperity! Send complete recovery to the sick, avert the plague from Your world.

Please – God, You who have nourished us in famine and provided us with plenty, You have removed us from pestilence, and freed us from severe and long-lasting disease – Help us.

Until now, Your mercy has aided us and Your kindness has not abandoned us, therefore we plead and request before You to heal us, Lord and we will be healed, Save us and we will be saved, for You are our glory.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before you, O Lord, my rock and redeemer. As in the words of Psalm 121 “A song for ascents:

I turn my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot give way; Your guardian will not slumber; see, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps! The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your protection at your right hand. By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night. The Lord will guard you from all harm; He will guard your life. The Lord will guard your going and coming now and forever.”

As of Wednesday morning, there have been 14,326 coronavirus cases in Israel and 187 deaths.

Worldwide, there have been over 2,565,000 infections and more than 177,500 deaths, according to a tally from John Hopkins University.