Prayer for Ukraine, Russia and the World
With Shabbat beginning today, I wrote a prayer for those who are suffering.
I never thought I was the kind of person who would write my own prayer. Even though I am very proudly Jewish, prayer, unfortunately, has never been a huge part of my practice. Yet I do find myself praying at times when life seems out of my own control; like when a plane I’m on lands or someone I love is very sick. This week, as I’ve followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfold, I’ve found myself feeling deeply in need of prayer. Thus I wrote this one, my first ever written prayer. Writing it helped me, and I hope reading it will help you.
Shabbat Shalom,
Arielle
Prayer for Ukraine, Russia and the World
May God bless and protect the people of Ukraine
A people who for thirty years have practiced democracy
A people who have been forced to stand up now
Against an invading country keen to take away their liberties.
May God bless and protect the defenders of Ukraine:
The soldiers risking their lives in the urban and rural battlefields;
The civilian volunteers taking up arms and making molotov cocktails
Learning on the spot how to use a gun.
May God bless and protect the women and children of Ukraine;
The elderly, the sick and the disabled who are holding onto life undercover and underground.
May God bless and reunite the families who have now been divided by borders
And bestow peace and safety upon those trying to find their way as refugees.
May God bless and give fortitude to Ukraine’s democratically elected government;
Please protect Ukraine’s public servants, whether they serve locally or federally.
May God bless and protect Ukraine’s President who has stood up in the face of evil
With confidence, resolve and Churchillian bravery.
May God also have mercy on Russians who reject the attack on their neighbor;
who feel scared, silenced, and not in control;
citizens that cannot access correct information because of their government’s censorship and deceitful propaganda;
Please protect those Russians that can see their government’s wrong-doing and are now risking their lives to stand up.
May God give strength and endurance to the countries around the world
Who have stood up to Russia, whether that be through sanctions,
providing Ukraine with military and humanitarian aid.
May God give courage to their leaders to continue leading with bravery
Keeping values like peace and democracy first in mind.
May God protect all the innocents
And may the memories of the victims whose lives have been lost due to
this unnecessary and illegal conflict be a blessing.
May God strengthen all those who seek peace,
May God inspire all who cherish liberty,
And may God’s spirit guide us as we work to protect independence, democracy and freedom.
I am impressed and moved by your prayer, Arielle. Love from Bonnie