Inna Serebro-Litvak

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A Prayer For Israel

Jun 23, 2025, 10:18 AM

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“Eli, eli, she lo yigamer le olam”

“Oh God, my God, I pray that these things never end”

I pray for the bustling streets of Tel Aviv

I pray for the laundry drying on the balconies.

I pray for the honking behind before light turns green

I pray for the smell of freshly baked challah on Friday

I pray for the songs of chalutzim (pioneers) on the bus

I pray for the kids playing outdoors

I pray for the cats everywhere

I pray for the heat in the middle of the day

I pray for the coffee houses and restaurants filled with people

I pray for late night parties

I pray for neighbors who stop by to ask for sugar

I pray for hitch hiking soldiers when they go home for Shabbat

I pray for the sound of Shofar on High Holy Days

I pray for falafel stands

I pray for the familiar tourist sites

I pray for the changing landscape as one travels from Be’er Sheva to Galil

I pray for the families gathering for the Shabbat meal

I pray for the weddings and birth of babies

I pray for the babies growing up

I pray so that all these things never end.

About the Author

Rabbi Cantor Inna Serebro-Litvak was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. She made aliyah to Israel with her entire family. There, she pursued her undergraduate studies at the Music Academy of Tel Aviv University. After graduating, she move to the United States and enrolled at JTS Miller Cantorial School. Rabbi Inna was the first woman from the Former Soviet Union to graduate from JTS. Rabbi Inna served as the cantor at Temple B’nai Or in Morristown, NJ and Temple Beth Am in Parsippany, NJ. While serving as the cantor at Temple Beth Am, she enrolled and completed her Rabbinic Ordination and Master’s Degree in Jewish Studies at AJR. Rabbi Inna is currently serving as the senior rabbi at Temple Shalom in Succasunna, NJ She is married to Anatoly Litvak, and has two daughters Emily and Abigail. In her free time, Rabbi Inna enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, going to theaters, listening to audiobooks and learning French.