Milton Balkany

The following speech was delivered as an invocation and a prayer by Rabbi Milton Balkany in support of President George Bush’s endeavor into the Middle East, with Vice President Dan Quayle.

“Almighty Father in Heaven, in these trying and turbulent days we turn to you in prayer.
Wars are won, as history has made abundantly clear, by leaders, generals and soldiers, but only if You, G-d wills it.

We therefore beseech you to be with our proud courageous and patriotic sons and daughters in the desert, on the seas and in the air. Protect and guide them so that they obliterate the enemy’s capability to resist.  You can not destroy a tree by merely plucking away its leaves. It is necessary to extract the tree by the roots, and so too the power of the ruthless and vicious tyrant Sadaam Hussein and his cohorts.

We applaud the administration for the preparedness in developing the strategic defense initiative.

Bless the President of the United States and our guest the Vice President Dan Quayle for their heroic conduct and their inspiration which rallied the nations to support our endeavors. They have demonstrated the true meaning of freedom. Freedom does not mean the right to do whatever you may choose. It is rather the responsibility to do what is right.

Bless them and all those who are engaged in this mighty struggle, including the one and only citadel of democracy in the Middle East, the State of Israel.”

Rabbi Milton Balkany, in a truly inspired invocation, blesses and praises all those involved in furthering the cause of peace and freedom in the Middle East and the rest of the world.

Rabbi Milton Balkany continues to inspire, praise and bless those nations and leaders willing to take a courageous stand in order to do what is right. In the following invocation Rabbi Balkany makes it clear that it is impossible for a free state to remain free if it is ready to submit to aggression.

“Beloved friends, it is clear to all those students of history that although a nation may have an ideal, without the courage to fight for that ideal the ideal remains just an idea without the life breath of existence.

The glorious record of American History etched on the rock of time and the souls of generations attests to that truth. It is almost an Americanism to say that freedom is incompatible with cowardly submission to aggression.

Dear G-d, strengthen our faith so that we may tap into the boundless spiritual energy that flows like a broad crystal stream from Your heart. Let us turn to tomorrow to help us over the tragic realities of today. Let us take the longer view; that tranquility and security shall be the shores and the boundaries of our blessed country. Let us envision the transformation of despair into victory, darkness into light. Let that light never cease, whether on land, on the sea, in the air, or in the desert.

Peace shall come to Zion and to the world. At that time all shall recognize and salute our President, Vice President, and our brave and dear sons and daughters who are our representative in this struggle. All shall then sing to You, our G-d. Amen.”

Rabbi Milton Balkany continues to encourage the leaders and citizens of the United States to remain steadfast and courageous in the face of difficult times we are going through.