May it be Your will,

Holy One, our God, our ancestors’ God,

that you erase war and bloodshed from the world

and in its place draw down

a great and glorious peace

so that nation shall not lift up sword against nation

neither shall they learn war any more.



Rather, may all the inhabitants of the earth

recognize and deeply know

this great truth:

that we have not come into this world

for strife and division

nor for hatred and rage, 

nor provocation and bloodshed.



We have come here only

to encounter You,

eternally blessed One.



And so,

we ask your compassion upon us;

raise up, by us, what is written:



I shall place peace upon the earth

and you shall lie down safe and undisturbed

and I shall banish evil beasts from the earth

and the sword shall not pass through your land.

but let justice come in waves like water

and righteousness flow like a river,

for the earth shall be full

of the knowledge of the Holy One

as the waters cover the sea.



So may it be.

And we say:

Amen.





(Translation by Rabbi Deborah Silver.  The quotations are: Leviticus 26:6, Amos 5:24 and Isaiah 11:9)