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Blessing for the Soldiers
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
March 14, 2026, Israel
We have been at war as far back as I can recall. When I arrived in Israel as a child we had just concluded the miraculous Six Day War of 1967. This was followed by ongoing terrorism and enemy incursions, including the deadly War of Attrition (1967-1970) which included fighting the Soviets. Then of course the 1973 Yom Kippur War which is my first memory of running to the bomb shelters. And such has been life ever since; the Lebanon wars, the Gaza wars. It has become part of the rhythm of our lives.
I don't recall when I began to notice that we prayed for our soldiers. A special prayer was recited every Shabbat (Saturday), and then at some point in my life I recall that the rabbis added, in addition to the soldiers of the IDF, "all members of our security forces", who stand guard to protect our country. The idea was that it became clear that the prayer was not inclusive enough, it was not only those in green, the military, that were protecting us but also the men and women in the various branches of the police, the Border Police, the various Intelligence Teams and so forth. They too should be included. Indeed, in our nations' heroic defense against the October 7, 2023, invasion we saw that it was not only the military but even more so, the local First Responders (civilians) and the local police. Traffic cops, anyone with a gun, or a car, was there to fight back against the brutal horde of Arabic invaders. All these men and women are included in our prayers,
But today I heard something different, in fact, I had to make sure my ears were not deceiving me, I heard, "and the soldiers of the United States of America!"
Wow. In the synagogue, the greatly respected Rabbi Zoldan, with his beautiful melodic voice, chanted, and may God protect and guard, save, watch over and preserve the soldiers of the United States of America.
A proud moment.
I am an American citizen. As a young man I registered for the USA draft but was never called. During World War Two many members of my family served in the war effort including my dear grandfather, and my cousin Willie who was killed in the Battle to the Bulge. But this not about affiliation. It is a feeling of gratitude.
As a university student with a degree in Political Science, I know that is a given, a truth, that no nation acts out of altruism, but only out of self -interest. If America goes to war, it is not to help the needy, American interests are at stake.
But today that did not matter. Today I was filled with a sense of pride, two great nations were standing together, as allies, against an Evil Empire. For years the leaders of that state called the USA the Great Satan and Israel the Little Satan. For years they built up their nuclear and conventional capability. We are being hit but we are standing strong and witnessing miracles that match and even exceed those passed down to us from our ancestors. We are experiencing miracles that cannot be explained logically, only spiritually.
Friday night we sat with neighbors whose son is spending sleepless nights at the airbases. He is technical support, rescue operations for aircraft landing, pilots who are stuck in the cockpit, planes that need to be serviced and sent back immediately. This is being done at record speed, with, Thank God, minimal losses. This is a heroic Epic. Other family members have been called up to Lebanon where the fighting is intensifying.
These are challenging times, my flight to Europe has just been cancelled, work difficult to come by; unknown future. We attend the services at the synagogue, most of us carrying guns, two men with rifles sit outside, taking their turn to protect the congregation. We are ready to respond to any threat, and we are ready to evacuate to the bomb shelters. Thankfully we enjoy a quiet moment. After the service we sit outside, a group of men, most have served in active combat. As Rabbi Asher is about to expound the lessons of the current Torah/Bible reading Rabbi Yosef joins in with an announcement. In a private meeting with the security council the rabbis were informed that the missiles that landed in our area Thursday morning was not a "random misfire", it was directed specifically at Maaleh Adumim, our town. As one member said, "We are on the map!"(i.e. what an honor, the Iranians know whom we are, they know our little town).
We drink a little schnaps and discuss the messages of rabbis long since deceased. Rabbi Wahrhaftig speaks of the Purim miracle of our time, how the people of Israel are surviving the modern-day Haman who seeks to destroy the "one nation among us who is different, and our laws they do not follow." and I am thinking of the new addition to our Prayer for the Soldiers, may God Almighty protect the soldiers of the United States of America, watch over them, bring them home safely. Once again, we are together, on the Right side of history!
May God bless us all and bring us peace. May God bring all our soldiers home safely. Amen.
Moshe Katz, 7th dan Black Belt, Israeli Krav Maga. Certified by Wingate Institute. Member Black Belt Hall of fame, USA and Europe.
Understand the Israeli Fighting Mentality - Israel a Nation of Warriors by Moshe Katz
What is the cultural background of Krav Maga? What makes it unique? What makes the Israeli military so effective? Why are Israeli security systems used all over the world?
What are the Biblical origins of Krav Maga and who was the first Krav Maga instructor?
What weapons and military strategies did our Biblical ancestors use?
How has Krav Maga developed in Israel and what are its goals?
All that and more in this unique book.
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