Global Shema prayer at Western Wall in Jerusalem for hostages, soldiers draws thousands

Tens of thousands of Jews in Israel and across the globe united on Thursday evening for the largest prayer event to recite the Shema prayer at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem. The mass crowd prayed for the return of the hostages and the safety of IDF soldiers in the war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. 

During the prayer rally at the Western Wall in the Old City, thousands of participants, including families of abductees and missing persons, recited chapters from the Book of Psalms, including Psalm 22, and a special prayer for the return of the abductees: “May all the people of Israel use these words as a prayer for the safety of the abductees and IDF soldiers.” 

The prayer event came at the end of the traditional Esther fast, called Taanit Esther in Hebrew, which is a fast from sunrise to sunset on the day before Purim, when Jews collectively remember the threats against them and God’s deliverance from those who have sought to harm Jews throughout history.  

The climax of the event was the joint reading of the Shema Yisrael prayer, followed by the blowing of the shofar. 

Before the Shema prayer began, Yigal Seroussi, whose son Almog was kidnapped into Gaza by terrorists on Oct. 7, said, “We now need this minute to clear our heads of everything. To be attuned to the Shema Yisrael that is going to be said here. We will all read the Shema together and aim to return all the abductees safe and sound. For the peace of our soldiers and unity within Israel.” 

The families of the abductees said: “The people of Israel have once again proven to us the magnitude of its glory. The strength you give us allows us to continue the difficult struggle of our lives, the struggle for the liberation of our loved ones.” 

The prayer was also attended by the Prime Minister's wife, Sarah Netanyahu. 

“We call on all members of the government to come and stand with us and together bring about an immediate deal," the families said.

The event was broadcast live in Israel and around the world. Jews around the world could be seen in synagogues, Jewish centers, universities, and various other places reciting the Shema Yisrael prayer simultaneously with the event in Israel, making it the largest public reading of the Shema in history.

The Shema prayer comes from Deuteronomy 6, where Moses called on the people of Israel to listen and obey the words of God: “Hear of Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one.” 

The prayer is recited in the morning and the evening by Jews worldwide.