Hashem wished to bring Moshiach in the miraculous days of King Chizkiyahu, but we failed to acknowledge His miracles with songs of praise. (Sanhedrin 94a)
Today we must not fail to thank Hashem for His miracles.
Hodu la’Hashem ki tov, ki l’olam chasdo. We give thanks to Hashem Whose kindness is eternal.
We thank Hashem for the return to our homeland of Eretz Yisrael, beit chayeinu, after two thousand years of exile, ki l’olam chasdo.
We thank Hashem for the remarkable transformation of the past 80 years, from the 6 million victims of the Holocaust to well more than 7 million Jewish inhabitants of our holy land, ki l’olam chasdo.
We thank Hashem for the kibbutz galuyot, bringing together Jews from every corner of the globe, from where they have been persecuted and where they have prospered, ki l’olam chasdo.
We thank Hashem for restoring Klal Yisrael from homelessness to our homeland and from abject powerlessness to military prowess, ki l’olam chasdo.
We thank Hashem for reviving our land from its previous barrenness without us to its remarkable flourishing upon our return, as ein lecha keitz megula mi’zeh, there is no more vivid signal of redemption than seeing Israel’s mountains verdant and fruitful, ki l’olam chasdo.
We thank Hashem for growing us into the nation that is in every way – spiritual and material – a source of blessing to the world, ki l’olam chasdo.
We thank Hashem for the astounding resurgence of Torah learning and Torah living, fulfilling before our eyes His promise ki lo tishakach mi’pi zaro, that the beautiful music of Torah will never be lost to our people and that His word will emanate most clearly from Zion and Yerushalayim, ki l’olam chasdo.
We thank Hashem for His miracles that are with us each day and His wonders that always accompany us. “This is from Hashem; it is wondrous in our eyes.”
And we pray for the future.
Ana Hashem hoshi’a na. God, please save us.
Ana Hashem, save Israel from the hostility of its surrounding neighbors as it sits as a lamb amongst seventy wolves.
Ana Hashem, bring strength to the hands and to the families of those who dedicate themselves to protect our holy land, safeguarding them and granting them the crown of victory.
Ana Hashem, grant Your light and Your truth to the leaders of Israel, its ministers and counselors, so that they may lead us as a nation secure and united.
Ana Hashem, as You fulfilled Your promise to our mother Rachel of bringing home to Israel millions of her children, please bring home to the loving embrace of family and community the 59 remaining hostages held in the unspeakably cruel hands of Hamas.
Ana Hashem, save Israel from the fires that have consumed thousands of acres of its beautiful landscape and threaten homes and communities.
Ana Hashem, wait no longer to fulfill the prophesy of Zecharya: “Once again there shall be elderly men and women sitting in the squares of Yerushalayim with walking sticks in hand because of their advanced age, while the squares of the city will be crowded with boys and girls playing.”
May we soon be blessed to sing the full song for the ultimate redemption of our people.
Kein yehi ratzon.