From a Child to a Soldier: IDF Chief Cantor Sings Prayer for New Soldiers Joining the Israel Defense Forces

The soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces were children a few short years ago and now these brave boys and girls are defending the state of Israel.

In November 2021 Shai Abramson, Chief Cantor of the IDF sang a prayer written by the Tzohar rabbinical organization, composed by Sol Zim, with musical arrangement, conducting and production by Ofir Sobol. The video shows the new soldiers boarding buses to their IDF bases.

Here are the lyrics, in English and Hebrew:

Master of All Worlds, the King to whom peace belongs, On this day on which we escort our child to serve the Jewish People and All Who Dwell In Israel through army service, we throw before You our pleas that You will spread Your canopy of peace upon him/ her and upon all soldiers of the IDF. 

Grant them the energy, agility, and joy to fulfill the commandment, “the help of Israel from the hands of enemies,” and give them courage, insight, and strength. Protect them from all danger or peril, injury or obstacle, and return them to their homes and families safe and whole, in body and in spirit, and through them may the verse be fulfilled: “It is G-d who girds me with valor, who makes my path perfect”. And may it be manifest through our son/daughter and through all of the IDF: ”G-d will protect you from all evil, He will protect your being; G-d will protect your comings and goings from now through eternity”. Amen.

רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, מֶלֶךְ שֶׁהַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁלּוֹ בְּיוֹם זֶה שֶׁאָנוּ מְלַוִּים אֶת בָּנֵינוּ ובנותינו לְשָׁרֵת אֶת עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל ומדינת יִשְׂרָאֵל ביבשה, באוויר ובים, אָנוּ מַפִּילִים תְּחִנָּתֵנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ, שֶׁתִּפְרֹשׁ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמְךָ עֲלֵיהֶם וְעַל כָּל חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְכוֹחוֹת הַבִּטָּחוֹן. תֵּן בָּהֶם כֹּחַ, זְרִיזוּת וְשִׂמְחָה, לְקַיֵּם מִצְּוַת "עֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיָּד צַר", וְתֵן בָּהֶם אֹמֶץ, תְּבוּנָה וּגְבוּרָה. שְׁמֹר אוֹתָם מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה, פֶּגַע אוֹ מִכְשׁוֹל, וְהַחֲזִירָם לְבֵיתָם וּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתָּם שְׁלֵמִים בְּגוּפָם, בְּרוּחָם וּבְנַפְשָׁם, וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב "הָאֵל הַמְאַזְּרֵנִי חָיִל וַיִּתֵּן תָּמִים דַּרְכִּי". וְקַיֵּם בָּהֶם וּבְכָל חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַפָּסוּק "יְיָ יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל רָע יִשְׁמֹר אֶת נַפְשֶׁךָ, יְיָ יִשְׁמָר צֵאתְךָ וּבוֹאֶךָ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם" אָמֵן. סֶלָה

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.