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Christian leaders and rabbis are calling for Monday, Nov. 6, to be a "National Day of Prayer for Israel" as the country marks the 30th day after the Oct. 7 massacre.
Rabbi Yehuda Glick, a former member of Israel's Knesset, wrote a letter addressed to Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, and Rabbi David Lau, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, calling for unified prayer for the sake of the country, reported the website Israel365.
"It will be 30 days since the terrible and cruel massacre that took place in our country on the day of Simchat Torah," said Glick in the letter, which was co-signed by more than a dozen members of the Knesset.
"Since that bitter day, we have been in the midst of a hard war with the cruelest of our enemies, a war that exacts an unbearably heavy price on us every day."
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"We, the members of the Knesset from the various factions, hereby turn to you and request that a call be issued from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to all the people of Israel for a day of prayer and supplication," wrote Glick.
"We suggest that the Chief Rabbinate issue a call to the entire public to gather in the synagogues in every city and town and in every locality to cry out before the Lord of the world."
Rabbi Yehuda Glick, seen in this 2015 photo, spearheaded a letter signed by many members of the Knesset calling for a "National Day of Prayer for Israel" on Monday, Nov. 6. Glick is a former member of the Knesset. (AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)
"We are in a time of trouble of which there is none greater," he wrote.
He added that a call for prayer from the chief rabbis "will be powerful and will encourage the entire public to gather together in all the synagogues all over the world."
Rabbi Glick's letter has received support from other rabbis in Israel, reported the website Israel365.
Joel C. Rosenberg, an evangelical Christian author who lives in Israel with his family, published a column on Nov. 1 in All Israel News calling for a national day of prayer.
Rosenberg is editor-in-chief of the website.
"As evangelical Christians, let us be showing true compassion for every Israeli and Palestinian who has lost loved ones, and providing tangible aid and comfort and compassion for every Israeli and Palestinian who is being traumatized by this war of Hamas’ diabolical making," said Rosenberg in his piece.
"Yet, let us do more than mourn."
People participate in a "Bring Them Home" solidarity rally in Trafalgar Square calling for the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hama on Oct. 22, 2023, in London, England. The Israeli government says 210 hostages were taken by Hamas from communities in southern Israel during the Palestinian militant group's surprise attack on Oct 7. The hostages, which include Israelis as well as foreign nationals, are being held captive in the Gaza Strip. Both Christian leaders and Jewish leaders have called for Monday, Nov. 6, to be a day of prayer for Israel and its people. (Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)
"I humbly ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and the entire Knesset to publicly call for a National Day of Prayer, based on the promise we read in 2 Chronicles 7:14," wrote Rosenberg.
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The Bible passage 2 Chronicles 7:14 states, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
"Millions of American evangelicals turn to these Scriptures as they seek the Lord to send national revival and a Great Awakening to their country," wrote Rosenberg.
He said, however, that "this verse is not a promise to America. It is specifically a promise made to the nation of Israel."
The National Day of Prayer, said Rosenberg, would bring spiritual fruit to the hostages, soldiers, those who mourn — and the nation as a whole.
The National Day of Prayer, said Rosenberg, would bring spiritual fruit to the hostages, soldiers, those who mourn — and the nation as a whole.
On Nov. 2, Rosenberg, again writing in All Israel News, said that "a range of Israeli Orthodox Jewish leaders" as well as evangelical pastors from around the world, have reached out to him in support of his previous column.
About 200 Israelis are estimated to be held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. Joel C. Rosenberg, an American-Israeli author and evangelical Christian, called for a national day of prayer that would provide spiritual comfort to the hostages. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
Oded Revivi, mayor of the city of Efrat and an Orthodox Jew, issued a statement endorsing Rosenberg's column and calling for a day of prayer.
"The head of the Efrat Local Council, Oded Revivi, is calling on Chief Rabbi David Lau and elected officials to establish a national day of prayer this coming Monday," he said on November 1.
"There is no doubt that there is a place to declare a National Day of Prayer, as early as this coming Monday when we will mark the 30th anniversary of the terrorist attack with Simchat Torah," he said.
Rabbi Tuly Weisz, founder of Israel365 News, is encouraging Christian leaders to join in on the National Day of Prayer as well.
Israel 365 News is, according to its website, centered on "reporting on the holy work of pro-Israel Christians in support of the people and Land of Israel" and "highlighting God’s role in current events and the fulfillment of His prophecies before our eyes."
Rabbi Tuly Weisz, founder of Israel365, wants Christians and Jews to come together to pray for Israel. (Israel365)
Weisz suggests that Christians pray Psalm 122 on Monday, Nov. 6, "appealing to the God of Israel in heartfelt prayer for the peace of Jerusalem."
Psalm 122 6-7 states, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you! Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers!"
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you! Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers!"
Weisz has spoken previously to Fox News about the importance of Christians and Jews praying together for peace in the Holy Land during this time.
"The world is looking for political solutions, and we're looking for spiritual solutions ... [We're] bridging the two communities and having rabbis and pastors together praying to the same God," he told Fox News in late October.
"There's a lot of history between Jews and Christians," he also said.
"There are a lot of reasons why Jews and Christians don't ordinarily get together."
Rabbi Tuly Weisz told Fox News about the need for both Christians and Jews to unite in prayer, saying he hoped to be "bridging the two communities and having rabbis and pastors praying together to the same God." (iStock)
"However, since I started the organization, I felt that the relationship was crucial — and crucial in so many ways for the security of Israel, as we're seeing today, but also for really the stability of the United States as a Judeo-Christian country," he said.
The call for a National Day of Prayer for Israel is the latest in interfaith work and prayer for peace.
The website Just One Thing launched shortly after the Oct. 7 attacks. On the website, people can sign up to do good deeds, or mitzvot, in honor of a member of the Israeli military.
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People of all faiths and levels of observance are welcome to participate, Aki Stein, founder of Just One Thing, told Fox News Digital.
Stein told Christian groups about Just One Thing — and that he welcomes their involvement prayers and spiritual support, and that "the [faith] outpouring has been just out of this world," he said.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, called for Christians around the world to mark a day of fasting and prayer for peace in the Holy Land. (Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
On October 17, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, marked a day of fasting and prayer by Christians around the world for peace in the Middle East.
Shortly afterward, Pope Francis called for another day of fasting and prayer for peace to be held on Oct. 27.
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The pope also scheduled a prayer vigil of "an hour of prayer in a spirit of penance to implore peace in our time, peace in this world," on the evening of Oct. 27 at St. Peter's Basilica.
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