Wednesday’s Prayer, by Lilian Helen Montagu (1895)

Contributor(s): Lilian Helen Montagu and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Shared on: 9 May 2023 under the Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

Categories: Wednesday

Tags: 19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Jewish Women's Prayers, teḥinot in English, תחינות teḥinot, Wednesday, West Central Girls' Club

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Wednesday’s Prayer.
	Almighty God,— In Thy infinite mercy Thou hast been pleased to accept me, unworthy as I am, to be Thy messenger. I belong to an ancient race, whom Thou hast kept alive unto this day, while Thou hast allowed other nations to decay and perish. All this Thou hast done for Thy particular purpose. Thou hast willed that we should teach all peoples at all times to trust in Thee, O God, in Thee alone.
	On each one of us Thou hast laid the duty to preach Thy glorious name. Not by force, nor by words, hast Thou bidden us make others believe. Thou hast charged us to let our lives declare Thy praise.
	By the beauty and purity of our conduct, by the truthfulness and earnestness of our hearts, we have to bear witness that Thou art our God.
	Oh, my Father, make me always proud that I belong to the House of Israel. Let me neyer bring shame upon my people. Train my mind and heart to serve thee in truth and faithfulness, that I may do Thy glorious work.
	O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth; and hitherto have I declared Thy glorious works. Even when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come. (Psalms 71:17-18)

“Wednesday’s Prayer” was written by Lilian Helen Montagu and published in Prayers for Jewish Working Girls (1895), pp. 13-14.

Source(s)

. Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication . 1.0 . Universal .

“Wednesday’s Prayer, by Lilian Helen Montagu (1895)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.

Lilian Helen Montagu

The Hon. Lilian Helen "Lily" Montagu, CBE (22 December 1873 – 22 January 1963) was the first woman to play a major role in Progressive Judaism. Until the age of 15, she was educated at Doreck College, and privately educated thereafter. In 1893 she founded with Emily Marion Harris the West Central Jewish Girls Club (which subsequently merged into the Jewish Girls' Brigade). She was active in social improvement, particularly in respect to unemployment, sweat shops and bad housing. In 1901 and 1902, Montagu laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Jewish Religious Union in London. In February 1902 she arranged the first meeting of the Jewish Religious Union for the Advancement of Liberal Judaism at her sister Henrietta Franklin's house. The Union set up the first synagogue in Liberal Judaism in the UK and helped found the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Montagu was a founding member with her sister of the Jewish League for Woman Suffrage. She sat on the executive committee and led the meetings in prayer. Following the retirement of Leo Baeck, Montagu served for a brief stint (1955–1959) in her 80s as president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, before handing the reins over to Solomon Freehof.

Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17

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