In Memory of America’s Fallen
As I contemplated a Memorial Day when America’s soldiers are fighting, and have died, in the same war that Israel is fighting and losing lives in, I felt even more strongly than usual that the traditional memorial tefillot we offer within the Jewish community should be offered for America’s fallen. And while I am certain I am not the first person this occurred to, nor the first to try my hand at making those adaptations, I was surprised that my online searches produced no results. Though I assume I must simply be unaware of resources that others have I nevertheless made my own attempt, and have decided to share it so that examples of such tefillot (albeit imperfect) are more readily available to others. Yehi zichram baruch, may their memories be a blessing.
| May the United States remember its children who lost their lives fighting in its battles and as victims of acts of terror, within the United States and around the world. May we remember their courage and strength, the holiness of their determination, and their self-sacrifice. May the heroes of freedom and victory, the loyal and the brave, be sealed in our hearts for all generations. And let us say, Amen. |
יִזְכֹּר אַרְצוֹת הַבְּרִית אֶת בָּנָיו שֶׁנָּפְלוּ בְּכָל מַעַרְכוֹתֶיהָ וּבִּפְעֻלּוֹת הָאֵיבָה, בְּתוֹךְ אַרְצוֹת הַבְּרִית וּבְרַחֲבֵי הָעוֹלָם. נִזְכֹּר אֶת אֹמֶץ לִבָּם וְכוֹחָם, אֶת קְדֻשַּׁת רְצוֹנְכֶם וְאֶת הַקְרָבָתָם הָעַצְמִית. גִבּוֹרֵי הַחֵרוּת וְהַנִּצָּחוֹן, הַנֶּאֱמָנִים וְהָאַמִּיצִים, יִהְיוּ חֲתוּמִים בְּלִבֵּנוּ לְכָל הַדּוֹרוֹת. וְנֹאמַר, אָמֵן |
| God full of mercy who dwells high above, grant proper rest on the wings of the Divine Presence – in the lofty heights of the holy and pure ones who shine like the glow on the horizon – to the souls of the holy and pure ones who lost their lives in the battles of the United States, and were victims terror in the United States and around the world. We offer our prayers and do acts of kindness and righteousness so their souls may ascend. May their souls therefore be protected beneath the wings of the Compassionate One forever, and may their souls be connected with the souls of the living; may their legacy be with the eternal God, and may they rest peacefully in the Garden of Eden; may their merits uphold the United States and may their legacies endure forever. Now let us say: Amen. |
אֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים שׁוֹכֵן בַּמְּרוֹמִים, הַמְצֵא מְנוּחָה נְכוֹנָה עַל כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה בַּמַּעֲלוֹת קְדוֹשִׁים, טְהוֹרִים וְגִבּוֹרִים, כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ מַזְהִירִים, לְנִשְׁמוֹת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁנָּפְלוּ בְּכָל מַעַרְכוֹת אַרְצוֹת הַבְּרִית וּבִּפְעֻלּוֹת הָאֵיבָה, בְּתוֹךְ אַרְצוֹת הַבְּרִית וּבְרַחֲבֵי הָעוֹלָם, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁאָנוּ מִתְפַּלְּלִים וְעוֹשִׂים חֶסֶד וְצֶדֶק לְעִלּוּי נִשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶם. לָכֵן בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים יַסְתִּירֵם בְּסֵתֶר כְּנָפָיו לְעוֹלָמִים וְיִצְרֹר בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים אֶת נִשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶם, יהוה הוּא נַחֲלָתָם, בְּגַן עֵדֶן מְנוּחָתָם וְיָנוּחוּ בְּשָׁלוֹם עַל מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָם וְתַעֲמֹד לְכָל אַרְצוֹת הַבְּרִית זְכוּתָם וְיַעַמְדוּ לְגוֹרָלָם לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין, וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן |
| May God Who blessed our ancestors Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah, bless the soldiers and security forces of the United States, on land and security forces who stand guard over us to protect us on land, in the air and by sea, in the United States and wherever they are. |
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, שָׂרָה, רִבְקָה, רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַחַיָּלִים וְכֹּחוֹת הַבִּטָּחוֹן הָעוֹמְדִים בְּמִשְׁמַר עָלֵינוּ בַּיַּבָּשָׁה, בָּאֲוִיר וּבַיָּם, בְּאַרְצוֹת הַבְּרִית וּבְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהֵם |
| May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy Blessed One preserve and rescue our soldiers from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and send blessing and success in everything they do. May our enemies be defeated by them, and may God grant them salvation and crown them with victory. |
יִתֵּן יְיָ אֶת אוֹיְבֵינוּ הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ נִגָּפִים לִפְנֵיהֶם. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִשְׁמֹר וְיַצִּיל אֶת חַיָלֵינוּ מִכּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה, וּמִכּל נֶגַע וּמַחֲלָה, וְיִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם. יַדְבֵּר שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ תַּחְתֵּיהֶם, וִיעַטְּרֵם בְּכֶתֶר יְשׁוּעָה וּבְעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחוֹן |
| And may the verse be fulfilled through them that “it is the Lord your God Who goes to battle against your enemies with you to save you.” And let us say: Amen |
וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם הַכָּתוּב: ״כִּי יְיָ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם, לְהִלָּחֵם לָכֶם עִם אֹיְבֵיכֶם לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם.״ וְנֹאמַר: אָמֵן |