Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman on 10 September 2025

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription) and Ari Berman

Shared on:

1 May 2026 under the Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

Categories:

🇺🇸 United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies

Tags:

119th Congress, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., American Jewry of the United States, English vernacular prayer, U.S. Senate

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, Yeshiva University, New York City, NY
Date of Prayer: 10 September 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, it is my honor to introduce Rabbi Berman, who just gave the prayer and who is president of the Yeshiva University. Thank you for your blessing this morning.
In his prayer, Rabbi Berman reminded us that America’s strength lies not just in power but purpose; not just in might but in our pursuit of the good. He has lived that principle. He is a global faith leader, distinguished scholar, educational visionary who is shaping contemporary discourse at the intersection of faith, ethics, and higher education.
As the fifth president of the Yeshiva University, he has redefined the role of faith-based universities in the United States. He gave the benediction at President Trump’s inauguration.
Yeshiva University, for more than a century, has been contributing to the common good and advancing the goals of faith with purpose. It is one of the flagship universities in the entire world for the Jewish faith, and he has brought his aperture there to bring us all together.
Finally, I want to recognize the need to succor. You said: Why are we here? I am here because Anita said I needed to be here to recognize Rabbi Berman. Anita is a fellow South Carolinian. She is a trustee at Yeshiva University, and she has contributed to our State, to the values that serve us in education, that bind us together. Anita called me about you and she was dead right.
Welcome and well done. God bless you.
I yield the floor.

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Almighty God, bless our chosen leaders, these devoted Senators, with values and vision to guide America toward its purpose: born in liberty, driven by service, called to greatness.
	Our merciful Father, there is a hunger in this land, not for power but for purpose; not to take but to give. We are seekers, Lord, yearning for meaning. We all ask ourselves: Why am I here? What is my purpose?
	Guide us, Lord, with a clarity to hear Your call and the courage to live our answer.
	As with King David of old, renew within our Senators the heart and spirit to unite our Nation to rise to this moment, to seize this great awakening so that we each can reach our most noble selves.
	May this upcoming Jewish New Year bring prosperity to our neighbors and our Nation, peace to Israel and to all places torn by war; freedom for the hostages and all who are held in captivity. May we each know the feeling of Your love and Your blessing.
	May this be Thy will. And let us say, Amen.

This prayer by Rabbi Dr. Berman was offered while serving as guest chaplain before the 119th Congress, 1st Session of the US Senate on 10 September 2025. The prayer was published in the Congressional Record, v.171, n.148 (Wednesday, September 10, 2025), Senate, page S6511.

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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.)

Ari Berman

Ari Berman (born February 18, 1970), from Queens, New York, is an American-Israeli Modern Orthodox and Religious Zionist rabbi and academic administrator, serving as the fifth president of Yeshiva University.

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "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)

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman on 10 September 2025

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