A PRAYER composed and delivered by the Reverend Isaac Touro, in the Jewish Synagogue, in Newport, Rhode Island, on Thursday the 28th Day of November, 1765, being the Day appointed, by his Honour the Governor’s Proclamation, for a general Thanksgiving in this Colony. Translated from the Hebrew.
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Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
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UNIVERSAL LORD! and Lord of Lords, Great God, powerful and tremendous, exalted above all Exaltation! We are this Day assembled in thy Presence, to sing Praises, and to give Thanks for all thy Mercies and Goodness, which thou hast bountifully bestowed on us, in that the Land hath yielded her Increase, and the Trees of the Field their Fruits. — | |
Wherefore, Lord our God, and God of our fathers, extend thy Compassion and thy Mercy unto us, and unto all who depend upon us. Suffer not thy People to stand in need of Sustenance. | |
Grant, we beseech thee, that we may enjoy internal Peace in this Land; and that Peace may subsist betweeen all States and Potentates: That thy holy Word, spoken by thy Prophet, may be fulfilled; “And I will give Peace in the Land.” (Leviticus 26:6) — | |
Be graciously pleased to grant, that we may hear glad Tidings of our Neighbours who inhabit round about us.— | |
Save and prosper our most gracious Sovereign, King GEORGE the Third, and all the Royal Family:— | |
Point out to all the King’s Councellors, and to the High Court of Parliament, the Secrets of Wisdom; and direct their Consultations to the Safety and Welfare of the whole British Empire. Lord, preserve them; and grant that we may in our Days behold “how beautiful upon the Mountains are the Feet of Him that bringeth good Tidings; that publisheth Peace; that bringeth good Tidings of Good; that publisheth Salvation; that sayeth unto Zion, thy God reigneth.” (Isaiah 52:7) — | |
Lord, let this be thy Will. AMEN. | |
The following Psalms were selected, and chanted on the same Day, in the Synagogue, viz. 21, 33, 47, 61, 67, 72, 76, 100, and 111. |
A copy of the printing of this prayer first published in the Newport Mercury newspaper, was shared by Keith Stokes, via his Facebook page on 27 November 2024. (Stokes is a descendant of the Touro family.)
Source(s)
“Prayer for Thanksgiving Day, by Rev. Isaac Touro (28 November 1765)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.
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