Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has penned a handwritten note to be placed at Jerusalem’s Western Wall.
The brief note, presumably written in Trump’s own handwriting, reads, “May you bless the United States, our armed forces and our allies. May your guiding hand protect and strengthen our great nation,” as the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.
Media outlets learned of Trump’s brief prayer note this week after some of his campaign staffers snapped a picture and sent it to Hebrew-language newspaper Yediot Acharonot.
Tump gave the original copy of the note to David Faiman, an advisor who will take it to Israel and have it placed inside a crevice in the wall. The candidate reportedly decided to write the note after a conversation with his daughter, Ivanka, who is Jewish.
As the Times of Israel noted, it is common practice for worshippers to stick notes in crevices between the stones that make up the Western Wall; the structure is the only remaining part of the Second Temple following its destruction by the Romans in 70 A.D.
Trump's Western Wall note, placed by advisor David Friedman: "May you bless the U.S., our armed forces and our allies." (h/t @YediotAhronot) pic.twitter.com/TdelBRbfp7
— Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) October 30, 2016
It is also common practice for a person who is unable to personally visit the wall to give written prayers to friends or family who can, in turn, place those invocations between the stones, as Religion News Service reported.
While some will certainly speculate that Trump’s latest act of prayer is one aimed at garnering support among Jewish and Christian voters, others will see his decision to send the prayer to the Western Wall — known in Hebrew as “Kotel” — as one rooted in respect for people of faith.
David Weissman, an American citizen who lives in Israel and supports Trump, told Religion News Service he believes the act shows that the candidate “respects Jewish tradition and prayer, and acknowledges the Kotel belongs to the Jewish people and he believes in God.”
As Faithwire previously reported, this isn’t the first time Trump has made prayer-related headlines of late. In a recent interview with CBN News, Trump and his wife, Melania, shared their biggest prayer requests with reporter David Brody.
While Melania Trump asked for prayers for good health, her husband requested help from the Almighty for both himself and the United States at large, reflecting language seen in his handwritten note.
“I would say I would like them to pray for guidance and to pray for our country,” Donald Trump said. “Because we need prayer now almost more than we’ve ever needed it before.”
Read more about what Trump had to say about evangelical support and other related faith issues here.
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