‘Messianic Era’: Rabbis pray for destruction of Iranian leaders, fulfillment of Talmudic prediction

Some rabbis in Israel tout possible collapse of the Iranian regime as fulfillment of Talmudic predictions heralding a coming messianic era.

By World Israel News Staff

A prominent Israeli rabbi has penned a new prayer calling for the collapse of the Iranian regime and wishing protection for dissident protesters.

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the chief rabbi of Safed (Tzfat) in northern Israel and son of the late Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel Mordechai Eliyahu, recently published a biblical-style prayer giving thanks for God granting strength to “strike our enemies,” referring to the Iranian government.

One of the most prominent rabbinic figures in the Religious Zionist community, Rabbi Eliyahu wrote of Iran’s leadership: “Rise up, Lord, and let Your enemies be scattered,” adding in the prayer a request to “destroy the leaders of Iran.”

The prayer implores God to shield “the people rising up against” the Iranian regime and expresses hope for a bloodless coup in which Iran’s security personnel “help, rather than fight” the protesters.

Rabbi Eliyahu published the prayer on his social media accounts and organized a prayer gathering for women, led by his daughter, Rachel Bazak, for recitation of the prayer.

According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, other Orthodox rabbis in Israel have claimed the unrest in Iran is part of the fulfillment of a Talmudic prediction that “Persia will fall into the hands of Rome.” (Megillah 11a).

Some members of the Chabad movement have interpreted the prediction and the current events unfolding in Iran as signs of a nearing messianic redemption.

At least 544 people have been confirmed dead during the government crackdown on the protests, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said Sunday, amid estimates by dissidents that the actual death toll could be in the thousands.

The Iranian government shut off internet access across the country Thursday evening, with the blackout ongoing, limiting digital communications to dissidents with access to the wireless Starlink network.