Q. Soldiers’ Names

Q. I just saw something that really drives me crazy and I’d like to hear the halachic side. People take and list names of individual soldiers to be prayed for. Aside from the fact that you just shouldn’t post that information-it seems wrong to me to individualize them in our prayers/Tefilote. Thanks in advance! Answer: Hi, how many of your boys were called up, and how are they? May Hashem return them liShalom together with all of the chayalim and hostages of Israel! In general, the main point is: the more we daven- the better! Of course you are correct we should be davening and saying Tehilim for all Am Yisrael and all of the soldiers, and that’s why all of our tefilot in the siddur are worded in the plural. But also for our own individual children, and all of the individual hostages and wounded that we know, and even for all of the Jews in Chu”l who are suffering anti-Semitic attacks. Often, when focusing on specific names and faces, it helps us have better Kavana, which is the most important thing, but even then, you are correct that we must (!) always add: בתוך שאר חיילי צה”ל, just as when davening for a sick person, what we do is to mention the individual sick person and his mother’s name, and then it’s obligatory (Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 335) to add: “together with all of the [other] sick/wounded of Israel”. Similarly, when chalila, comforting a mourner we add: “בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים”! Our sorrows and challenges are all nationally related, and we always worry, think and daven for all of Israel- how much more so when Am Yisrael goes to war, that it’s a obviously a national issue! This also gives certain comfort to the one praying, that we’re all in this together, and also “packages” all of the zechuyot of all of the tzadikim (e.g. the many volunteers wherever we turn, and especially the many who altruistically and G-dly gave and endangered their lives to save others) together with those who may not necessarily merit deliverance on their own. הנה א-ל ישועתי אבטח ולא אפחד. כי עזי וזמרת י-ה ה’ ויהי לי לישועה… לה’ הישועה.. ה’ צבאות עמנו משגב לנו א-להי יעקב סלה. ה’ צבאות אשרי אדם בוטח בך, ה’ הושיע, המלך יעננו ביום קראנו. א-ל נקמות ה’, א- נקמות הופיע, ה’ שמע, ה’ סלחה, ה’ הקשיבה ועשה אל תאחר, למענך אלוהי, כי שמך נקרא על עירך ועל עמך”!! “Behold, G-d is my unfailing help; I will trust in G-d and will not be afraid. G-d is strength and song, my Deliverer. With joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation. G-d alone is our help; may G-d bless His people. G-d of the universe is with us; the G-d of Jacob is our protection. There was light and joy; gladness and honor for the Jewish people (in the time of Purim). So may we be blessed. I will lift the cup of salvation and call upon G-d’s Name.” “O Hashem, hear; O Hashem, forgive; O Hashem, hearken and do, do not delay; for Your sake, my G-d, for Your Name is called upon Your city and upon Your people.” May we speedily see the great victory and advancement in the ge’ula process that Hashem promised us that will grow out of this tzara, soon and with as few casualties. With Love of Israel, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)