Amidst the backdrop of a multitude of demonstrations across the country, several hundred Israelis gathered in Jerusalem, between the Knesset building and the Supreme Court, to pray. The prayer was not against the judicial reform or for the reform, but a prayer for the entire people of Israel. This prayer for unity was initiated by a number of parties, including the “Brothers in Arms” organization, “Responsible Right”, “the high-tech protest” and “Religious Democratic Zionists”, and it was also attended by yeshiva leaders and pre-military training schools.
Among the participants was the educator Miriam Peretz, who lost her two sons in battle, as well as the founder of the Tzohar organization Rabbi David Stav, Rabbi Yaakov Madan, Rabbi Avidan Friedman, and other Israeli citizens who came to call for the unity of the people.
Rabbi David Stav, the head of the Orthodox Tzohar organization, calls for a 'Mini Yom Kippur' in light of the growing rift in the Israeli society that is being torn apart by tension over the judicial overhaul
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The prayer was preceded by a call to participate in the public prayer: "Brothers and sisters, the current rift is the greatest of all and it threatens the unity of the people of Israel. We will do everything so that this does not happen. We will look for every opportunity to say 'brothers we are,' and we will exhaust every opportunity to meet and talk. That is why we appeal and invite each and every one to participate in public prayer for the unity of the people. Secular, traditionalist, and religious. Knitted kippahs, ultra-Orthodox. Everyone. Rabbis, yeshiva leaders, public leaders."
Love this
— Tuvia Elbaum (@Tuviae) March 23, 2023
Yeshiva guys from Wolfson Yeshiva in Bait Vagan, Jerusalem, go out to do ברכת האילנות for ראש חודש ניסן, and start a dance, while a group of anti-reform left wing protest in front of the house of Aryeh Deri, leader of Shas party
Israel, the Jewish-Democratic state
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The prayer continued, "this is the time for all of us to stand up. We will cry out to the Creator of the world, 'Please God saves us,' we will pray for the unity of the people and we will call on the leaders to stop, speak and do everything to heal the rift that is opening up in us. We don't care if you support the reform or if you oppose it. Now, it's not important. We'll meet, we'll pray, we'll sing, we'll make our cry."
Prominent Israeli rabbi David Stav calls for public fasting on Wednesday, pause of judicial reform@Jerusalem_Posthttps://t.co/9nEJzEfInq pic.twitter.com/e62g81vHC2
— Zvika Klein צביקה קליין (@ZvikaKlein) March 21, 2023
The prayer was held in a protest tent that was set up about two weeks ago by the Rose Garden in Jerusalem. Rabbi David Stav, who saw a need for and created an organization that serves as an alternative to the State run Rabbinate, said that "We are on the brink of an abyss. Against the background of the great rift in society and the fear of degenerating into a fratricidal war, supporters and opponents of the reform will stand together, praying for our home and peace. We will pray for the fusion of the rift and for peace within us, for our continued existence in the State of Israel. We will call on the leaders, to the parties in the dispute: don't tear the people apart. Wait. Talk. Come to an agreement. It's in our soul."
