Israeli police officers (illustrative). Photo: Mark Probst via Wikimedia Commons.

The wording of the “Mi Shebeirach” prayer for members of Israeli security forces has officially been updated to include police officers, the Hebrew news site nrg reported this week.

Israel Police Rabbi Rahamim Berachyahu announced the change on Wednesday. The revision was approved by Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau.

“In recent years, Israeli police officers have stood at the forefront of action and danger in the face of terrorist incidents taking place across the country,” Rabbi Berachyahu explained. “The men and women of the Israel Police protect the citizens of the State of Israel every day and, unfortunately, even pay with their lives to save innocent civilians.”

The prayer — originally penned by the late former IDF Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren — was last updated during the Second Intifada to include all members of Israel’s security forces, rather than just soldiers.

The newest version of the prayer is worded as follows:

He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, the officers of the Israel Police, and those who serve in Israeli security forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God, from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the great sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighters from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under our soldiers’ sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory.  And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is the Lord your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you. And let us say, amen.