Rosh Hashanah 2026: Top 10 things to pray for in 5787 - opinion

Ahead of Rosh Hashanah 5787, columnist Gil Hoffman offers a list of ten realistic prayers for the coming year in Israel, including a government mindful of international perception, improved outreach to young Americans, unity to avoid civil war, election of good Anglo ambassadors, expansion of the Abraham Accords, return of tourism and doctors, adoption of Sundays off, success for NBA star Deni Avdija, and a Nobel Prize comeback. The piece opens with a quote from Walmart founder Sam Walton about managing expectations, noting that the acronym for the Hebrew year 5787 has been interpreted as 'tihye shana pachot zvautit' — 'May the year ahead be relatively less horrendous.'

Ahead of Rosh Hashanah 5787, Jerusalem Post columnist Gil Hoffman offers a list of ten realistic prayers for the coming year in Israel. The piece opens with a quote from Walmart founder Sam Walton about managing expectations, noting that the acronym for the Hebrew year 5787, taf-shin-peh-zayin, has been interpreted as 'tihye shana pachot zvautit' — 'May the year ahead be relatively less horrendous.' Hoffman then lists ten prayers: a government that cares about how Israel looks abroad, citing UK sanctions and opposition leader Yair Golan's accusation that the IDF kills babies; improved outreach to young Americans, citing a Harvard/Harris poll showing 54% of 18-24-year-olds support Hamas; unity to avoid civil war, referencing Amotz Asa-El's book on Jewish civil wars; election of good Anglo ambassadors, listing past Anglo MKs; expansion of the Abraham Accords; return of tourism and of the 1,370 Israeli physicians who left between 2023 and 2025; adoption of Sundays off; continued success for NBA star Deni Avdija; and a Nobel Prize comeback following the passing of chemist Ada Yonath.