July 1, 2003

OU and RCA Leaders Present ‘Prayer Card’ Plaque to Visiting IDF Chief Rabbi

Chief Military Chaplain of the Israel Defense Forces, Brigadier General Rabbi Yisrael Weiss, met with leaders of the Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America at OU headquarters in New York last week. Rabbi Weiss is visiting the North American Orthodox Jewish Community to help focus its attention on the spiritual and physical needs of the soldiers of Israel in this time of crisis.

The OU and RCA leaders presented Rabbi Weiss with a plaque featuring the card containing the prayer for the welfare of IDF soldiers (Mi Sheberach Lechayalei Tzahal) that the OU has been making available since January to raise funds to assist injured and needy soldiers and their family’s religious needs. Thousands of these tefilla (prayer) cards have already been sold in the United States, Israel and in Jewish communities worldwide.

In his remarks, Rabbi Weiss explained the difficult challenges he and the other IDF rabbis face, including decisions according to Jewish law (halacha) as to when a missing soldier can be declared dead; who goes into battle first (reservists or regular soldiers); and how and where to set up a makeshift synagogue while in the field. He discussed his responsibility towards the entire IDF which includes Bedouins, Christians, Druze as well as Jews from all ranges of observance who have different needs regarding religious obligations. “We try to be as accommodating as we can within the structure of an army.” said Rabbi Weiss.

Discussing the tragedy of the Intifada, Rabbi Weiss told the OU and RCA leaders about his heart-rending experiences participating in the funerals of all the soldiers killed, then paying Shiva calls on their families.

“Lekach MiHaLev, Velatet MiHaNeshamah We take from our heart, to give with our soul,” said Rabbi Weiss, describing how the army cares for its own, for example, when it raised funds to provide assistance to the seven children of an IDF rabbi who died of cancer.

Welcoming Chief Military Chaplain of the Israel Defense Forces Brigadier General Rabbi Yisrael Weiss were, from l-r: Rabbi Major Yedidya Atlas, IDF Liaison to the United States; Rabbi Moshe Krupka, OU Executive Director of Programming; Harvey Blitz, OU President; Rabbi Weiss; Rabbi Bertram Leff, Interim Executive Director of the RCA; and Rabbi Kenneth Auman, President of the RCA.	The plaque presented to Rabbi Weiss features the prayer card with the Mi Sheberach Lechayalei Tzahal that the OU has made available.
Howard Rhine, OU Vice President and creator of the IDF prayer card program, welcomes Rabbis Weiss and Atlas.	Rabbi Weiss related his experiences in a time of war.
OU leaders present Chief Military Chaplain of the Israel Defense Forces, Brigadier General Rabbi Yisrael Weiss with the ‘Prayer card’ plaque. From l-r: Rabbi Major Yedidya Atlas, IDF Liaison to the United States; Rabbi Weiss; Howard Rhine, OU Vice President; Harvey Blitz, OU President; and Rabbi Moshe Krupka, OU Executive Director for Programming.

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