Musician and composer Yair Levi has recently released a new song titled “Blessed.” The inspiration for the song, which celebrates God’s assurance to bless those who support the Jewish people, comes from Genesis 12:3. Here are the moving lyrics of this song:
He is God his word’s always perfect
God always the same
He is King through all of the ages
His heart has never changed
Not one promise that Heās ever spoken has failed
He is faithful to Israel
He says
I will bless those who bless you
Bless those who bless you
I will bless those who bless you
Through you all the people of this world
Will be blessed
Heās the God who has chosen a people
Abba, FathŠµr who’s always kind
In his mercy He lovingly guides thŠµm
And scatters the darkness with light
Not one promise that Heās ever spoken has failed
He is faithful to Israel
He says
I will bless those who bless you
Bless those who bless you
I will bless those who bless you
Through you all the people of this world
Will be blessed
We will love who He loves
Standing with Him
And pray for the peace
Of Jerusalem
He says
I will bless those who bless you
Bless those who bless you
I will bless those who bless you
Through you all the people of this world
Will be blessed
In Genesis 12:1-3, God instructs Abraham to leave his homeland and family for “a place that I will show you,” the land of Israel. God then promises to make Abraham into a great nation and declares:
This promise in verses 2-3 not only sets the foundation for the emergence of a significant nation from Abrahamās lineage but also introduces a persistent dichotomy in how this nation will be perceived and treated by the rest of the world. As the descendants of Abraham establish themselves as a nation, they will never be seen with indifference; instead, they will either be regarded as a source of blessing or as a target of curses.
Why is that the case?
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks offers a profound insight into the command to “go forth,” “lekh lekha,” which is how the blessing to Abraham begins in Genesis 12:1. While “lekh” means to go forth, “lekha” literally means “for yourself.” However, Rabbi Sacks offers the following explanation: āGo by yourself.ā According to Rabbi Sacks, “only a person willing to stand alone, singular and unique, can worship the God who is alone, singular, and unique. Only one able to leave behind the natural sources of identityāhome, family, culture, and societyācan encounter God who stands above and beyond nature…
To be a child of Abraham is to have the courage to be different, to challenge the idols of the age, whatever the idols and whichever the age. In an era of polytheism, it meant seeing the universe as the product of a single creative willāand therefore not meaningless but coherent and meaningful. In an era of slavery, it meant refusing to accept the status quo in the name of God, but instead challenging it in the name of God. When power was worshipped, it meant constructing a society that cared for the powerlessāthe widow, orphan, and stranger. During centuries in which the mass of humankind was sunk in ignorance, it meant honoring education as the key to human dignity and creating schools to provide universal literacy. When war was the test of manhood, it meant striving for peace. In ages of radical individualism like today, it means knowing that we are not what we own but what we share; not what we buy but what we give; that there is something higher than appetite and desireānamely the call that comes to us, as it came to Abraham, from outside ourselves, summoning us to make a contribution to the world.”
In other words, God was calling on Abraham and his descendants to be unique and different, not only to stand apart but also to stand up for what is right, even if it meant going against what is popular. This path would bring the nation of Israel many blessings but also the challenge of constant visibility and scrutiny. They would never go unnoticed, and people would either love and appreciate them for their morality and values or hate them for highlighting the lack of morality and values in society.
Indeed, this dynamic has been evident throughout history. The children of Israel have never been neutral in the eyes of the world. They have always provoked strong reactions, polarizing those around them into two distinct camps: those who love Israel and stand with it, and those who harbor animosity towards Israel and seek its destruction. But this division has also consistently showcased the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. Those who have supported and blessed Israel have invariably found themselves blessed, while those who have cursed Israel have faced misfortune and adversity.
Today, in a post-October 7th world, this message is more pertinent than ever. Antisemitism is spreading rapidly, igniting college campuses and permeating the media. This age-old hatred is rearing its head in new and disturbing ways, threatening the safety and well-being of Jewish communities worldwide, as well as Israel’s reputation. In such times, the need for people to stand with Israel is paramount. It is not merely a political or social stance but a moral imperative rooted in the divine promise given to Abraham.
To stand with Israel is to align oneself with a historical and spiritual legacy of blessing. It is to affirm the enduring truth of God’s promise and to reject the forces of hatred and division that seek to undermine it. As antisemitism spreads like wildfire, it is crucial for individuals and nations to take a stand, to choose blessing over curse, and to uphold the promise made to Abraham that still resonates through the ages.
As Yair Levi writes in his song, “Blessed,” not one promise that God has ever spoken has failed to come true. And since God promised to bless those who bless Israel, standing with Israel is more than a gesture of supportāit is aligning oneself with the Divine.
Our Prayer Book ,Stand By Me allows you to connect to thousands of years of Jewish prayer and tradition, providing you with the words you need to speak to God about what matters most to you. You can purchase your copy, TODAY by visiting the Israel365 store.
