A Time of Distress - What to Do? Insights from Great Torah Sages

1. Spiritual Strengthening. In the past, during conflicts in the south, Rabbi Gershon Edelstein zt"l, the head of Ponevezh Yeshiva, addressed the situation and said, "We must know that nothing happens by chance; everything is under the providence of Heaven, as the Ramban wrote in Parashat Bo, that everything is decreed from above. If there are merits, there is reward and success, and if there are no merits, then the opposite. The only advice for this is not by my strength and power, but through repentance and improving our deeds."

2. Enough with the Fraternal Fighting, Enough with Disputes. Rabbi Gershon Edelstein zt"l emphasized that one must strengthen the relationships between people and in the love of others.

Additionally, a young man approached Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l and asked him what one should strengthen within oneself. "We can stop the Angel of Death only if we strengthen ourselves in respecting others, in the relationships between people - this way, he will have no dominion over us," replied the rabbi zt"l.

3. Tear Open the Heavens with Prayer, Increase Torah Study, Be United. During another time of distress, a joint letter by Rabbi Gershon Edelstein zt"l and Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky zt"l was published, outlining how to strengthen ourselves in those difficult days: "It is our absolute duty to hold on to the craftsmanship of our ancestors, to tear open the heavens with prayer.

"Strengthen in Torah study as much as possible," and for the yeshiva students, they called to "increase courage and strength not to be preoccupied with things outside of study."

Additionally, they added "and particularly, to awaken regarding interpersonal matters to be all as one."

A Prayer for Times of War or Distress

First, say Psalm 20 twelve times with intention:

To the conductor, a psalm of David: May Hashem answer you on a day of distress, may the name of the God of Jacob fortify you: May He send your help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion: May He remember all your offerings and may your burnt offerings be accepted forever: May He grant you as your heart desires and fulfill all your plans: Let us sing for joy in your deliverance and in the name of our God let us lift our banner; may Hashem fulfill all your requests: Now I know that Hashem saved His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heavens with the mighty victories of His right hand: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we call out in the name of Hashem, our God: They collapsed and fell, but we arose and gained strength. Hashem, save; let the King answer us on the day we call.

After saying the chapter, say:

May it be Your will, Hashem our God and God of our forefathers, Mighty One of Jacob, Holy One of Israel, that through the merit of reciting this psalm, mercy be filled for all Israel, residents of this city (say the name of the city), and protect us from the hand of our enemies and all who rise against us. And save us from evil, hunger, captivity, plunder, all fear, and all sorrow, and subdue and humble all our enemies, fright and dread shall come upon them (intent with the name: Ta'ao), with the greatness of Your arm, they shall remain still as stone. And just as You answered Jacob in Bethel when he said he would build an altar to God who answers him in his day of distress, and that's how King David, may peace be upon him, would pray when Joab was at war, may Hashem answer you on the day of distress, may the name of the God of Jacob fortify you, it is the name that Jacob our forefather, may peace be upon him, called to, the God who answers me in my day of distress; in this name, I call upon You (intend in thought: Eheyeh Hashem Adonai) may He answer us on the day we call. The merit of the names that emerge from this psalm, its vowels, its words, its letters, and its accents, may they shield us and all Israel, residents of this city (say the name of the city), to eradicate all thorns and thistles that surround the upper rose:

Please, compassionate and gracious King, redeem the children of Jacob from wrath, thwart and nullify the counsel of all those who rise against us. May our troubles be before You, see our affliction and take up our cause, that all nations shall know that You are the Holy One of Israel. Remember Your children, poor and needy, hoping for Your salvation all the days. Our Father, Our King, let Your mercy overcome Your wrath, let Your mercy prevail over Your attributes. Living and eternal God, perform miracles and wonders in the name of Hashem of Hosts, to defeat Your enemies, and in the name of Elokim of Hosts and in the name of El Shaddai, righteous foundation of the world, to guard all Israel and especially the residents of this city (say the name of the city). For the sake of the name Eheyeh, the crown, and in the name of Hashem, beauty, and in the name of Adonai, Your holy temple, strengthen and save us, and may advocates stand in Your presence to enter our prayers for abundant mercy, as it's written: For Hashem, your God, is a merciful God, He will not let you go, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your ancestors which He swore to them. Do it for Your name, do it for Your right hand, do it for Your Torah, do it for Your sanctity, so that Your beloved ones may be delivered. Save with Your right hand and answer me. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, Hashem, my rock and my redeemer.