Thousands of Jews came to the Western Wall from across the country to pray for the good health of people in China at the behest of Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of the city of Tzfat and member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, in response to his call on Thursday night for faithful Jews to assemble at the Western Wall on Sunday, to “pray for the people of China who are in great distress.”
“Tens of thousands of people are in isolation, millions under quarantine,” the rabbi’s press release said. “One fifth of the world’s inhabitants experience great anxiety. About each and every one of them it was said: ‘Beloved is man for he was created in the image [of God]’ (Mishna Avot, 3:14).”
“We are called upon to pray for the people of China,” Rabbi Eliyahu’s message continued. “We are called upon to pray for all the sick in the other countries as well. Pray for the world.”
“On Sunday, February 16, at 4:30 PM, at the Western Wall, we will all pray,” the rabbi urged. “And may God hear our prayer and make true through us the verse ‘In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed,’ (Genesis 28:14).”
Earlier on Thursday, Rabbi Eliahu posted an exceptionally moving message, saying, “There is a tradition held by the people of Israel, that one blessing draws another. And when there was an epidemic in the nation of Israel, King David taught us to thank and bless every favor we receive from God, and so the plague stopped (II Samuel 24). That gift which we received from King David, we want to pass on to the Chinese people.”
“King David taught us to bless with a song,” Rabbi Eliahu continued, and called on all creative people, “composers, musicians and singers to compose a gift song from Israel to the Chinese people. A song of partnership, of prayer, of blessing.”
Amen.