Rare Order Of Service of the Jewish Legion 1925.

Rare Order Of Service of the Jewish Legion 1925.

"Prayer and thanksgiving for the bringing of the flag of the 40th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers to the 'Beit Ya'akov' great synagogue in Jerusalem, on Thursday, the sixth of Hanukkah… (December 17, 1925)".

[Jerusalem]: "Hamadpis" Press, 1925.

The Jewish Legion was established in 1918 to assist the British Army in World War I. It was disbanded in 1920, and its flag was transferred to the Beit Yaakov Synagogue, the Churvat Rabbi Yehuda HaChasid, where it was entrusted at a ceremony held a couple of years after its dissolution, in 1926.

After its dissolution, the King's flag of the battalion was entrusted in England and elsewhere according to an arrangement made with the Ministry of War and with the approval of the King in various synagogues and other sacred buildings, including the Great Synagogue in London. However, it was eventually decided that since the battalion was mostly composed of Jews who volunteered in the Land of Israel and served there, it was appropriate that the flag of the English King, "the property of the government, " would be entrusted to a synagogue in Jerusalem, to which the flag would be brought at the regular ceremony established in the military regulations of the King (King's Regulations) for such an event.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the High Commissioner, Lord Palmer, the Chief Rabbis, high government officials, and distinguished guests. Admission to the event was by invitation only.

The ceremony opened with the singing of "Adon Olam" first by the cantor Berdichevsky and then by the congregation. The Chief Sephardic Rabbi, Rabbi Yaakov Meir, ascended to the Holy Ark and pronounced the blessing "Baruch Haba B'Shem Hashem, Berachnuchem MeBeit Hashem." The officer who entrusted the flag made a declaration, and various verses were recited. Afterward, a special prayer composed by Rabbi Kook was recited by the cantor. It was titled "Special Prayer."

Rabbi Kook's prayer begins with gratitude to the "Rock of Israel" for the conquest of the Holy Land with the help of the soldiers of the battalion, who assisted with their arms. The memory of the flag is sacred to them; it is tied to the pure souls that fell in battle. The prayer concludes with a request for the perpetuation of peace in all the kingdoms of the world.

After Rabbi Kook's sermon, the cantor blessed the "Giver of Salvation" in honor of the King of Britain and recited the "Mi Sheberach" prayer for the High Commissioner, Field Marshal Lord Palmer, and Field Marshal Lord Allenby. The ceremony ended with the singing of the English anthem and "Hatikvah."