NEW YORK -- Members of the Yeshiva University men's basketball team stood in the dark along the baseline of the school gym, waiting for the overhead lights to turn on so they could start practice. It was Monday, Oct. 9, two days after Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack by air, land and sea from Gaza on neighboring Israel, which subsequently declared war.
One of the players opened a prayer book and read aloud in Hebrew a message often recited in support of Israeli soldiers and their safe return. Part of the passage he read: My help is from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth; He will not allow your foot to falter; Your Guardian will not slumber -- Tehillim (psalms) 121.