December 19, 2002

OU Calls on Jews Worldwide to Recite Daily Prayer for Israel’s Defense Forces

Declaring that world Jewry must identify more closely with the soldiers fighting on Israel’s front lines, the Orthodox Union (OU) has produced 100,000 credit card-sized cards featuring the MiSheberach Lema’an Hachayal – the prayer for the Israel Defense Forces – for use by individuals.

“We needed to find a way for Diaspora Jewry to go beyond expressions of solidarity with the people in Israel,” said Howard Rhine, OU senior vice president and chair of its Israel Task Force Initiative, who conceived the project with Vel Werblowsky of Brooklyn. According to Rhine, the idea of the mass distribution of the prayer on handy and attractive cards “is to enable each one of us – adults and children alike – to say the prayer every day“

“This is a world-wide initiative,” emphasized Rhine, as he called on Jewish communities throughout the Diaspora to recite the prayer. “Children in schools, businessmen and women in their offices, women bentching Shabbat and Yom Tov candles – are all urged to say the prayer. Doing this will enable us personally to identify with those who are protecting our brothers and sisters in our land,” Rhine said.

Although Jewish liturgy contains multiple references to Israel, and many congregations have added the recitation of extra chapters of Psalms in response to the crisis, the OU feels that special attention should be focused on the young people who serve in the Tzahal, the Israel Defense Forces.

“We believe very strongly that prayer is most effective when the whole community comes together,” said Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, OU Executive Vice President. “The power of 100,000 Jews saying this tefillah every day will be immense.”

The card project includes elements of tzedakah (charity) and of direct assistance to the soldiers, as well as the prayer. The cards, which were printed in Israel, will be sold for $1 each, with the entire proceeds of $100,000 being donated to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces to assist injured and needy soldiers. The complete cost of production has been underwritten by the Orthodox community of Great Neck, NY.

OU President Harvey Blitz noted that the card is the latest in a comprehensive series of actions taken by the organization and its Israel Task Force on behalf of the country and its people in the current crisis. “We have just published an eight-page brochure listing dozens of ways people can help Israel,” he said. “These include twinning programs – in which American communities are paired with Israeli communities, solidarity missions, and the purchase of products made in Israel. The tefillah card represents yet another dimension of what we can each do,” Blitz said.

The card, with a full color photograph of Israeli soldiers at the Western Wall on one side and the prayer on the other, is also available in a larger format for schools and synagogues to display. In addition, a magnetized version is on order. Rhine hopes that Jews from all backgrounds and denominations will join in this initiative and is reaching out to other organizations to participate. The OU is currently initiating a comprehensive marketing campaign to distribute the cards.

To order the cards, or for more information, call Elisheva Wallace at 212-613-8226, or via email at wallacee@ou.org, or visit www.ou.org/israel.

The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA, and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher supervision label, the (OU), is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 250,000 products manufactured in 68 countries around the globe.

www.ou.org

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Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Department of Public Relations Stephen Steiner Director of Public Relations Main Office: 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Phone: 212.613.8318 Fax: 212-564-9058 E-mail: media@ou.org

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