This prayer for Ukraine is inspired by the liturgy of Rosh Hashanah which asks God for an end to tyranny.
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May God grant the Ukrainian people the fortitude to resist and reverse any onslaught from Russia.
May the defeat of Putin’s army bring about a rebirth of freedom for the Russian people.
May Russia and its neighbors live together in amity through democracy.
May the hope of the Rosh Hashanah liturgy ring throughout the land —
May all evil (Rishah=Russia) dissipate like smoke,
for the removal of tyranny ushers in the overall reign of God.
Peace for all.
Amen.
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Reuven Kimelman’s prayer takes its cue from the biblical verse, “When God is acknowledged sovereign over all the earth, God will be one and His name one.” Zachariah, 14:9 It puns on the Hebrew word for evil, rishah, which sounds similar to Russia.
This prayer originally appeared on The Jewish Experience, Brandeis University’s website devoted to exploring Jewish issues.
