Israel’s Chief Rabbis released a public letter on Motzaei Shabbos in response to the war with Iran, urging the tzibbur to strengthen themselves through added fasting, prayer, and heartfelt supplication during what they described as a “difficult campaign” against a cruel enemy.

The letter, signed by the Rishon LeZion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Dovid Yosef, and the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Kalman Meir Ber, was issued under the heading “Lech Kenos Es Kol HaYehudim.”

In their message, the rabbanim write: “We stand in the midst of a difficult campaign against a hostile and cruel enemy. We witness the steadfastness of the Air Force pilots, of the soldiers of the IDF, and of all members of the security forces.

“And just as we merited in the days of Purim to be saved after fasting and crying out — ‘when Mordechai the Jew and Esther established and accepted upon themselves and their descendants the matters of the fasts and their cry’ — so too now it is incumbent upon the public to increase matters of fasting and outcry.”

The rabbanim continue by calling upon the tzibbur to intensify tefillah and supplication, writing: “Therefore, we must increase prayer and supplications so that in these days of Purim as well, we should merit, with Hashem’s help, to be saved.”

They instruct that during Shacharis and Mincha, after Shemoneh Esrei, Avinu Malkeinu should be recited, along with chapters of Tehillim — 20, 121, 123, and 130. The letter concludes with the prayer that “our prayers should be accepted favorably and that we should merit salvation speedily.”

The Chief Rabbis also stress the obligation to follow the directives of the Home Front Command, noting that regulations concerning public gatherings may change from time to time. They close with a blessing drawn from Megillas Esther: “LaYehudim haysa ora v’simcha v’sasson v’ikar — so may it be for us.”