By: Fern Sidman

As conflict rages across the Middle East and the skies above Iran echo with the thunder of Israeli air power, a profound spiritual movement is unfolding—one not of missiles, but of voices raised in prayer and thanks.

On Thursday, June 19, corresponding to the 23rd of Sivan on the Hebrew calendar, Jewish communities across the globe are answering an extraordinary call: to unite in a moment of heartfelt gratitude to Hashem (God) for what many are calling open miracles in the defense and deliverance of the people of Israel.

At precisely 6:00 PM Israel time, Jews in cities from New York to Sydney will recite Nishmat Kol Chai and Psalm 100 (Mizmor LeTodah)—timeless expressions of thanksgiving to Hashem —in what organizers are heralding as a “moment history will not forget.”

The timing of this spiritual mobilization is both symbolic and momentous. In recent days, the Israel Defense Forces have conducted a series of unprecedented precision strikes on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. What once seemed impossible—penetrating Iran’s formidable air defense systems—has unfolded with startling success. As Israeli pilots navigate Iranian airspace with minimal resistance, many within the Jewish world are attributing these victories not only to technological superiority, but to Hashem’s providence.

“We are living through days beyond imagination,” declares the official statement promoting the global gathering. “Days when the Master of the Universe displays His power and kindness before our eyes.”

According to organizers, the parallels between today’s events and the biblical narrative of Megillat Esther are impossible to ignore. The 23rd of Sivan marks the day when King Ahasuerus granted Queen Esther’s request to allow the Jewish people to defend themselves—a pivotal moment that set the stage for the triumph celebrated during the festival of Purim. Today, this same date becomes a spiritual rallying point for a people once again facing existential threats.

Echoing the words of the Lubavitcher Rebbe following the Gulf War in 1991, organizers warn that the Jewish people must not remain passive observers of divine intervention. “If we had given thanks to Hashem with full recognition, the Final Redemption might already have come,” the Rebbe said. That sentiment now returns with urgency and resonance.

The call to action is not only spiritual but unifying. It invites every Jew—regardless of affiliation, language, or location—to join in a synchronized expression of gratitude. From Paris to Buenos Aires, London to Johannesburg, Tokyo to Montreal, the global timetable ensures that the recitation of these ancient prayers will ripple around the world like a wave of light piercing through the tumult of war.

At the heart of this initiative lies the belief that faith, unity, and gratitude to Hashem are themselves potent forms of protection and transformation. While Israeli pilots wage a physical battle in the skies, Jews around the world are being asked to respond with a spiritual arsenal: words of praise to the One Above, hearts lifted in awe, and a reaffirmation of the eternal covenant.

Organizers have disseminated detailed prayer schedules and promotional materials across digital platforms and community networks. The message is clear: “Let us not miss this moment. Let us not remain silent. Let Hashem and the world hear our gratitude, and may the heavens open even more.”

Times Around the World:

Israel – 6:00 PM

New York / Toronto / Montreal – 11:00 AM

Paris / Brussels / Geneva – 5:00 PM

London – 4:00 PM

São Paulo / Buenos Aires – 12:00 PM

Johannesburg – 5:00 PM

Moscow / Istanbul – 6:00 PM

Los Angeles – 8:00 AM

Tokyo – 12:00 AM (Friday, June 20)

Sydney – 1:00 AM (Friday, June 20)

Turning a Moment into a Movement

There is a palpable urgency to this spiritual appeal. With each airstrike, each intercept, each unexpected success in the theater of war, the question reverberates more loudly: Are we responding to Hashem’s infinite kindness with appropriate gratitude?

This global moment of prayer seeks to transform the trajectory of history—not through politics or diplomacy, but through heartfelt recognition of Hashem’s mercy. As the world watches Israel’s unfolding confrontation with Iran, Jews worldwide are being called to look upward, inward, and forward.

If, as the Rebbe taught, true gratitude to Hashem has the power to usher in Redemption, then perhaps the words spoken today in living rooms, shuls, and schools across the world may one day be remembered as the catalyst for the ultimate transformation.

May this 23rd of Sivan be remembered not only for what took place in the skies—but for what took root in the hearts of Am Yisrael.