October 7th: A Response Rooted in Prayer & Love

As we enter the “High Holy Days” of the Jewish year, seeking mercy from God is the only appropriate response to the horrors that occurred on Simchat Torah, October 7 and the entirety of this past year.

The “High Holy Days” begins with the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) which is followed by Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Both are days of self-examination and repentance. In a place where human sin and demonic wickedness is evident, the blast of the shofar announces the holiday to awaken the complacent soul and confuse the devil. And so the people cry out in ancient prayer to the living God to manifest His kingship and take control of human affairs as they repent and bow before Him.

But God desires, and even commands, joy after repentance. This occurs during the week-long Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). The final day of rejoicing is Simchat Torah, remembering when God offered life to His people at Mount Sinai and the giving of the Torah. It was this day on which death visited so many and perpetuated more death in the following year.

The biblical calendar was given to the people of Israel to foster a perpetual, annual remembrance of God’s redemption, His faithfulness, and His loving actions toward His chosen people. The feasts and festivals of the Lord serve as a memory aid for every Jewish generation. And every Jewish generation needs to see the faithfulness of God as they suffer the wrath of Satan in his war against God and His people.

The festivals of the Hebrew Bible were given to Israel. But we, as Christians, must also value repentance, the joy of reconciliation, and the fight against Satan. We, as Christians, are not required to celebrate these feast, but we do get to see God’s redemption and join with Israel in repentance and the joy of reconciliation during these specific times God Himself set aside to remember His redemption.

It is deeply tragic and surely demonic that the horrific events of October 7 unfolded on Simchat Torah—a day meant to celebrate the joy of receiving God’s Word, the Torah, at Sinai. Simchat Torah is a festival of rejoicing, where the Jewish people dance with their sacred texts, a moment of communal unity and spiritual elation. Yet, on this day of commanded joy, violence and devastation struck, turning a celebration of divine revelation into a time of profound mourning. The juxtaposition of such darkness with a day devoted to light reminds us of the stark contrasts in human experience—where joy and sorrow often collide in the brokenness of our world. 

The Church owes an ongoing debt to the Jewish people and our prayers for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps. 122) and for the entire Middle East are one important way we can express our gratitude for the Gospel. That debt should also be repaid with love; for if God loves the Jewish people (Rom.11) so should we. And love includes being a witness of the Good News and sharing our faith when appropriate. 

As the one-year anniversary of the October 7th massacre approaches, we invite you to pray with us using the following collect written after an official ACNA visit from Bishop Julian Dobbs (also a CMJ USA board member). Bishop Dobbs was hosted by CMJ Israel during his trip of solidarity and learning. The collect was composed in a spirit of love and gratitude toward the Jewish people, not to make a political statement or disregard the suffering of other groups in the Holy Land. We are also mindful of the Palestinian Church and their needs. Our prayers and efforts toward reconciliation are guided by God’s promise that one day “Israel, along with Egypt and Assyria, will worship together and be a blessing on the earth” (Isaiah 19:23-24).

In that spirit, we invite you to join us in prayer:

“God of all comfort and hope, who in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, proclaimed good news to the poor, bound up the broken-hearted, and set the captives free: We remember before You this day all who are affected by the violence of October 7, and we ask You to heal the wounded, comfort those who mourn, and bring justice and peace to the land of Israel. Look with mercy upon the peoples of the Middle East, that, in Your great compassion, the light of Christ may shine in the darkness and bring hope to every nation. As Simeon rejoiced to see Your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel, so we pray that Jesus, the Messiah, would be known as the true hope for all the earth. May Your Kingdom come, and may Your peace reign in every heart, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”