For information specific to Jewish women, click here.

An Urgent Call to All Jews

Nation of Hashem! Awaken, Arouse Yourselves and Call Out to Hashem!

We are seized with trembling over the difficult situation that has developed in our Holy Land as danger threatens our fellow Jews and no one knows what each day will bring. Evil people plot and attack our nation, and Jewsih blood is spilled like water.

The cry of the Jewish people is loud in the face of the heavy and terrifying tragedies, including the death of young people, may it no longer come to pass. Every heart is pained and broken over the terrible, bitter illnesses that have stricken the Jewish sick, may Hashem strengthen and heal them.

Our power lies only in seizing the means of our forefathers, and it is incumbent on us to call out with a great and bitter outcry as the Rambam describes in Hilchos Taaniyos:

"It is a positive Torah commandment to cry out and sound trumpets on every calamity that threatens the community, as it says, "in the face of the enemy that attacks you, you should sound the trumpets' -- meaning in the face of whatever causes you harm....cry out and sound the alarm. This is one of the paths of repentance, that when a threat appears and the poeple cry out and sound the alarm, and all recognize that it is their sins that cause them harm, as it says, your sins have tipped the balance," this is what will cause the threat to be removed from them."

"In gatherings praise Hashem." Let large numbers of those who fear Hashem and cherish His name gather together to pour out their prayers before the Creator of all in all the shuls and botei Medrash wherever they live, throughout the world, on Wednesday, Adar 29, erev Rosh Chodesh Nisan. Let the special prayers of Yom Kippur Katan be recited, and chapters of Tehillim, especially perakim 83, 130, and 142 before He Who Dwells on High, so that He will show us favor and redeem us from all our travails.

Let us return to Hashem with full force, let us better our ways both with regard to things between man and G-d and those between man and his fellow. Let us distance ourselves from loshon horah and rechilus, and increase our love for others.

Let each of us perceive the positive in others and not their shortcomings. Let us strengthen ourselves in Torah and fear of Heaven and in the fulfillment of mitzvos.

Let us become strong in our prayers and supplications, and let Hashem hear our entreaties, show favor to his people and mercy to the remnant of His portion. Let reports of tragedy or loss among us no longer be heard, and let Him strengthen and bind the brokenhearted in their mourning. Yisroel's salvation is in Hashem, a salvation for all eternity.