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Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Dr. Abraham de Sola, Congregation Shearith Israel of Montreal, Canada
Sponsor: Adolphus Simeon Solomons, District of Columbia House of Representatives
Date of Prayer: 9 January 1872
Sponsor: Adolphus Simeon Solomons, District of Columbia House of Representatives
Date of Prayer: 9 January 1872
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| Contribute a translation | Source (English) |
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Almighty and Everlasting God! these, Thy servants, the representatives of the people of the United States in Congress assembled, have come to legislate in accordance with the principles of civil and religious liberty enunciated by their sires, the founders of this Republic, and by perpetuating the same, to prove themselves worthy the glorious heritage they have received. Then look down from Thy holy habitation, from heaven, and assist and bless them at this time. | |
Pour out thy spirit most plenteously upon them; yea, let rest upon them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and of ability, the spirit of the knowledge of Thee, O Lord. Let righteousness be the girdle of their loins, and faithfulness the cincture of their reins. | |
And in all their deliberations for the public weal, let not personal or partisan hostility find place; but suffer harmony, patriotism, truth, and justice to pervade them, so that to bigotry there may be given no sanction, and to persecution no assistance.[1] From George Washington’s “Letter to the Jews of Newport,” August 17th, 1790. Let such a spirit prevail in all they do and say for this, their country, and inspire them with an enlarged sentiment of peace and good-will toward all other people. | |
We gratefully acknowledge, O Lord, that such a sentiment is signally manifesting itself in our day, and we render unto Thee our most hearty thanks that Thou permittest us, even now, to witness a victory of peace infinitely greater than any victory achieved in war, at any time, and by any people, in that this nation and its parent nation are settling their differences, not by might, not by power, but by Thy spirit,[2] Cf. Zechariah 4:6. in a manner best becoming those of one origin, language, and blood, by an appeal to the arbitrament of nations impartial and disinterested.[3] This paragraph in Rabbi de Sola’s prayer directly references the Alabama Claims, the resolution of which were a crucial step in the early years of Canada as a confederation semi-independent of the United Kingdom and at peace with the United States of America. From the Wikipedia article, “The Alabama Claims were a series of demands for damages sought by the government of the United States from the United Kingdom in 1869, for the attacks upon Union merchant ships by Confederate Navy commerce raiders built in British shipyards during the American Civil War. The claims focused chiefly on the most famous of these raiders, the CSS Alabama, which took more than sixty prizes before she was sunk off the French coast in 1864. After international arbitration endorsed the American position in 1872, Britain settled the matter by paying the United States $15.5 million, ending the dispute and leading to a treaty that restored friendly relations between Britain and the United States. That international arbitration established a precedent, and the case aroused interest in codifying public international law. The case too resulted in the warming of relations between Britain and the US, which had begun the 1800s as rivals, and ended the century, as something of partners.” | |
And as aforetime and among other peoples many a vindictive and bloody struggle, destroying both the material resources and moral sense of those engaged, has originated in much less important considerations, we have special cause to thank Thee that this evil was averted, and to ask that the words of the Chief Magistrate of this Republic may indeed be realized; that this example may be everywhere followed, so as to restore to the productive industry of the world millions of men engaged in training and preparations for war. | |
Bless, then, both these nations who proclaim the glad tidings of peace, to the world; draw them yet nearer and nearer to each other in mutual esteem and mutual confidence, and this not merely for their own welfare, but for the blessing of all the families of the earth, to whom they are the hope, the teachers of liberty, and enlightenment. | |
Supreme Ruler of the Universe! may it please Thee to let the light of Thy countenance shine continuously upon this land Thou hast hitherto so greatly favored. Open unto it Thy goodly treasure, and bless it with prosperity within and tranquility without. Preserve it from bloodshed and from the pestilence that stalketh in darkness. | |
Maintain within it the grand charter of liberty Thou hast inspired, and as he who sacrilegiously touched Thine altar of old was accounted worthy of death, so perish the unhallowed hand that would pervert or destroy this Constitution of wisdom, justice, and liberty, for the narrow purposes of sectarianism. | |
And lastly, and above all, may its people advance most in the fear of Thee, and love of Thee, so that they may be for a name and praise among all the nations of the earth. Amen. |
This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the second month of the second session of the 42nd US Senate. It was published in The Israelite, “House of Representatives: Tuesday, January 9, 1872” (9 Feb 1872), page 5. An illustration of the event was published in illustration of the article, “Rev. Dr. de Sola,” published in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper (January 1872). In a letter to the editor, Rabbi de Sola explained that he was invited to offer the prayer by Adolphus Simeon Solomons (1826-1910) who was at that time the chairman of the ways and means committee for the District of Columbia House of Representatives.[4] ”A Personal Explanation,” in The Jewish Messenger (26 Jan 1872), p. 2.
This prayer is one of approximately 20 prayers offered by rabbinic guest chaplains before Congress before such prayers were recorded in the Congressional Record. This prayer was located by Aharon Varady as part of his search for these “lost” prayers in preparation for his Natalie Feld Memorial Fellowship work at the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA) 2024-2025.
Source(s)
House of Representatives, Tuesday, January 9, 1872 (The Israelite, 9 February 1872), p. 5 Abraham de Sola opening the House of Representatives with Prayer (Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, 1872)
Notes
| 1 | From George Washington’s “Letter to the Jews of Newport,” August 17th, 1790. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Cf. Zechariah 4:6. |
| 3 | This paragraph in Rabbi de Sola’s prayer directly references the Alabama Claims, the resolution of which were a crucial step in the early years of Canada as a confederation semi-independent of the United Kingdom and at peace with the United States of America. From the Wikipedia article, “The Alabama Claims were a series of demands for damages sought by the government of the United States from the United Kingdom in 1869, for the attacks upon Union merchant ships by Confederate Navy commerce raiders built in British shipyards during the American Civil War. The claims focused chiefly on the most famous of these raiders, the CSS Alabama, which took more than sixty prizes before she was sunk off the French coast in 1864. After international arbitration endorsed the American position in 1872, Britain settled the matter by paying the United States $15.5 million, ending the dispute and leading to a treaty that restored friendly relations between Britain and the United States. That international arbitration established a precedent, and the case aroused interest in codifying public international law. The case too resulted in the warming of relations between Britain and the US, which had begun the 1800s as rivals, and ended the century, as something of partners.” |
| 4 | ”A Personal Explanation,” in The Jewish Messenger (26 Jan 1872), p. 2. |
“Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Dr. Abraham de Sola on 9 January 1872” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.
Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)
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