Tefillos and Torah Learning On Behalf of Jewish Soldiers

One of the major spiritual efforts that was made by Am Yisrael for the sake of the safe return of the three kidnapped boys, Hy”d, was the saying of Tehillim by Jews of all types throughout Eretz Yisrael. This project was organized by Mercaz Meidah Liyahadut, directed by Rebbetzin Y. Grossman who lives in Beis Yisrael, adjacent to Meah She’arim, in Yerushalayim. Her phone number was given on the radio and thousands of Yidden from throughout Eretz Yisrael called to commit to saying the Tehillim of one particular day (Sunday, Monday, etc.) every day as a zechus for the boys to be found. It added up to hundreds of sifrei Tehillim daily!

Now, barely two weeks after the burial of those three holy boys, Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael is in the midst of a raging war, with missiles being launched by Hamas day and night to almost every area of the country. Once again there is tremendous achdus, unity, as Jews of all sectors of Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael and abroad are banding together, doing everything we can to merit rachamim and Divine protection for all Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael, and in particular — our soldiers.

Some years ago, during Operation Cast Lead, the Chief Rabbi of Rechovot, Harav Simcha HaKohen Kook, ybl”c, and the Bostoner Rebbe, zt”l, wrote a joint letter asking all Am Yisrael to daven for our soldiers. This request led to the creation of Mateh li’Elef, an organization run by Rebbetzin Grossman which matches individual Torah learners and other religious people with soldiers, the former learning and davening for individual soldiers.

The Torah tells us that it is the merit of Torah learning, observance and prayer that protects us, and it is that which entitles us to live in Eretz Yisrael. And now, with the help of Mateh li’Elef, those learning Torah are learning specifically for the welfare of all Am Yisrael and also for individual soldiers. Each avreich and ben yeshivah who calls a phone number in Yerushalayim is given the name of one soldier, so that he can learn and daven for that particular soldier’s wellbeing. With volunteer secretaries manning many phones, thousands of soldiers are being matched up with their “partners” who learn and daven for them.

Rebbetzin Grossman tells of the great achdus and ahavas Yisrael this creates, as well as the comfort it provides the soldiers and their families. “Mothers and wives call to give in their sons’ and husband’s names and express their appreciation and gratitude to us with great emotion and sincerity. They are so appreciative and encouraged by what we’re doing. Knowing that religious Jews will be davening for the soldiers individually means so much to them! And of course, it’s not just the comfort that’s important, but the fact that learning and tefillah work, b’ezras Hashem, because Hashem is in control of everything! Last Erev Shabbos, when it was thought that ground troops would go into Gaza on Shabbos, mothers and wives were calling until the last minute before candle-lighting because it was so important for them to have someone daven for their loved ones. One woman has three sons who had been called up!”

Rebbetzin Grossman told of great miracles that were reported after the last war; nissim which were attributed directly to the learning and prayers on the soldiers’ behalf.

If you would like to learn and daven for a Jewish soldier in Eretz Yisrael, you can email Mercaz Meidah Liyahadut: myahadut@inter.net.il, or you can call: 02-5811-911.

May we all share only besoros tovos and may our achdus and ahavas Yisrael lead to the coming of Moshiach very soon.

This article appeared in print on page 23 of the July 16th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.