Israeli prayers of resistance and resilience: the politics of faith after October 7th

אמונה התחדשות יהודית חברה ישראלית טקסים משמעות שבעה באוקטובר שייכות תפילה

This study investigates the sociological and political shifts in Israeli prayer practices and religious discourse in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks. Through ethnographic observations and an analysis of liturgical innovations, the author explores how prayer became a tool for both national resilience and political resistance. The article highlights the emergence of new liturgical forms within various Israeli communities, including secular and liberal religious groups, who adapted traditional prayers to express grief, hope, and a demand for the return of hostages. Ben-Lulu argues that these practices represent a "politics of faith," where the act of praying transcends individual spirituality and becomes a collective performance of belonging and social activism. The research emphasizes that post-October 7th prayer in Israel serves as a bridge between the private emotional experience of trauma and the public sphere, reflecting a renewed negotiation of Jewish-Israeli identity during a period of national crisis.