Prayer for Lajos Kossuth, by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise (5 June 1852)

Contributor(s):

Isaac Mayer Wise and Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)

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19 July 2024 under the Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

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International Day of Democracy (September 15th), Hungary

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19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Prayers for leaders, Lajos Kossuth, Revolutions of 1848, Hungarian Revolution of 1848, Forty-eighters

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Lord of Hosts, Father of mankind! “the heavens declare thy glory,” (Psalms 19:2) the material universe perpetually proclaims thy omnipotent will, the wisdom and immutability of thy government; mankind’s history, the realized plan of a benign Providence, solemnly testifies the wisdom, justice, and goodness of thy everlasting laws; the human heart, the work of thy hands, is pervaded with love of liberty and desire of happiness: Thus Thou hast taught us to be thy sacred will, that man be free and happy, and governed on the principles of justice, goodness and true wisdom.
	But the ambition, egotism and avidity of men have been more regarded than thy words, than the voice of nature, and a few tyrants usurped the liberty and happiness, which is the just due of every human being; justice and equity gave way before the iron rule of tyranny; and the genius of humanity loaded with insult and covered with shame, mourned under the heavy chains of slavery, and mingled her tears in the flood of injustice, which threatened to extinguish the brightest luminary of heaven,— the sun of liberty.—
	“And God said let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3) and the venerable fathers of our own republic invited the genius of humanity to these western shores, and hither she came, and unfurled the glorious star spangled banner, and chastised the tyrant, and refreshed the land with the mild zephyr of liberty and justice; but yonder nations she had abandoned because of their misfortunes.
	And again “The Lord spoke, and it was done; he commanded and”—the illustrious Louis Kossuth^[1] The English name of Lajos Kossuth (1802-1894) a Hungarian nobleman, lawyer, journalist, politician, statesman and governor-president of the Kingdom of Hungary during the revolution of 1848–1849. Kossuth’s bronze bust can be found in the United States Capitol with the inscription: “Father of Hungarian Democracy, Hungarian Statesman, Freedom Fighter, 1848–1849.” was born to dash in pieces the heavy yoke which selfish despots loaded upon suffering nations; to reconcile the genius of humanity with the government of nations to reestablish the empire of justice upon the immovable columns of liberty, goodness and true wisdom.
	May doubt and mistrust bewilder the mind of those who do not comprehend thy goodness, O God of Love! but we have confidence in thee, and we are sure, that thou wilt assist and strengthen the indefatigable apostle of liberty, and justice, that he accelerate the regeneration of yonder unfortunate nations; for the time has come when despotism knows its curse and liberty knows its blessings; we know that liberty and justice are the expressions of thy sacred will;
	and therefore we have assembled here this evening to hear the words of thy will, from the lips of him whom thou hast chosen to execute thy will; which, we are confident, O Lord, is as pleasing in thy sight, as if we chant sacred hymns and psalms in thy praise; and therefore thy humble servant is encouraged to entreat thy benign blessing to the performances of this evening.
	“May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy presence O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer.” Amen.

This is an opening prayer offered by Rabbi Dr. Isaac Mayer Wise, before an address by Lajos Kossuth (1802-1894) sponsored by the Young Men’s Hungarian Liberty Association in Albany, New York on 5 June 1852. The prayer was published as part of the “Programme of Exercises,” in The Asmonean (12 June 1852).

Source(s)

Prayer for Lajos Kossuth by Isaac Mayer Wise (The Asmonean 12 June 1852), p. 4

Prayer for Lajos Kossuth by Isaac Mayer Wise (The Asmonean 12 June 1852), p. 5

Notes[+]

Notes
1	The English name of Lajos Kossuth (1802-1894) a Hungarian nobleman, lawyer, journalist, politician, statesman and governor-president of the Kingdom of Hungary during the revolution of 1848–1849. Kossuth’s bronze bust can be found in the United States Capitol with the inscription: “Father of Hungarian Democracy, Hungarian Statesman, Freedom Fighter, 1848–1849.”

. Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication . 1.0 . Universal .

“Prayer for Lajos Kossuth, by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise (5 June 1852)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.

Isaac Mayer Wise

Isaac Mayer Wise (29 March 1819, Steingrub (now Lomnička, Czech Republic), Austrian Empire – 26 March 1900, Cincinnati), was an American Reform rabbi, editor, and author. At his death he was called "the foremost rabbi in America."

Aharon N. Varady (editing/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