In the midst of a stormy night of riots in Iran, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu—the Chief Rabbi of Safed and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council—published a special prayer this evening (Thursday) for the overthrow of the Ayatollah regime.
Additionally, he held a global women’s prayer session with his daughter, Rebbetzin Rachel Bazak, featuring participants from around the world. The session was dedicated to the “success of Divine goodness and the downfall of the Iranian regime.”
In the text of the prayer, Rabbi Eliyahu wrote:
“We thank You, Lord our God and God of our fathers, for giving us the strength to strike our enemies, fulfilling within us [the verse]: ‘And you shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.’
Please, O Lord, destroy and eliminate all who rise against us for evil. Arise, O Lord, and let Your enemies be scattered; let those who hate You flee before You. Destroy the leaders of Iran who stand against us to annihilate us. Save us from their hand. Help all the people who are rising up against them. Protect them, and put it into the heart of the army to assist them and not to fight them.
Fulfill within us [the words]: ‘And all wickedness shall vanish like smoke, when You remove the dominion of Intentional Sin from the earth.’ May You, O Lord our God, soon reign over all Your works, on Mount Zion, the dwelling place of Your glory, and in Jerusalem, Your holy city. As it is written in Your holy words: ‘The Lord shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, unto all generations. Hallelujah.'”
Editor’s Comment: Not every opponent of the regime is a friend of Hashem and Israel (and I am not sure if the “Safek Pikuach Nefesh” argument is enough to cancel the prohibition of “Lo Tichanem” which applies to most Iranians, according to the Chazon Ish on Shviit #24). Instead of praying for the protection of the regime’s opponents I would prefer a prayer for vengeance against the enemies of Jewish control of the Temple Mount, such as the Ayatollah supporters. This is based on the book of Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) chapters 50 and 51 where the prophet calls for the Maday nation (Medes) to destroy Babylon as revenge for what Babylon did to the Temple.
Translation Notes:
- Biblical References: Much of the prayer utilizes direct quotes from the Book of Leviticus (the blessing of victory) and the High Holiday (Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur) liturgy .”
- Context: The “stormy night of riots” likely refers to widespread civil unrest within Iran, which the Rabbi is framing through a spiritual lens.
Translated with minor corrections with the help of Gemini AI and based on a Hebrew article in Arutz Sheva.
See the related post:
The Avoda Zara Worshipers of Iran Are Currently Suffering From an Intense Drought. Let’s Get Things Right This Time and Pray for their Downfall.
Scholars who are well versed in Halacha, might also be interested reading the “Psak” of “Siach Yitzchak” on the issue of “Lo Tichanem”. Press here to read it in Hebrew.