Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “In time of stress” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 97-98.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “On a Bed of Sickness.” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 96-97.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For the sick” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 98.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “In Memoriam” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 98-99.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For those in sorrow” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 99.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For reconciliation” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 99.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For forgiveness” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 99-100.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayers “For Faith and Strength” were first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 86-87.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Understanding” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 94-95.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayers “For Peacefulness” were first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 88. The prayer appears to be an expansion of the prayer for peace at the conclusion of the Amidah.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Usefulness” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 95.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayers “For Courage” were first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 91-92.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayers “For the Sanctification of Life” were first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 87-88. Both of these prayers appear to have been adapted from a Shabbat service. As some of the language makes reference to the coming week, it feels apposite for an afternoon Shabbat minḥah service.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Enlightenment” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 93-94.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Unselfishness” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 91.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayers “In Thankfulness” were first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 88-90. The prayer appears to be an expansion of the penultimate modim (thanksgiving) prayer near the conclusion of the Amidah.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Home” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 95-96.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Hope” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 94.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Sincerity” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 93.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Purity” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 96.

On 19 June, the fourth and final day of the Republican National Convention in 1916, the invocation was offered by Rabbi Gerson B. Levi of Temple Israel (Chicago) at the Chicago Coliseum in Chicago, Illinois, as recorded in The Official Report of the Proceedings of the Republican National Convention 1916, page 101.

This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the second month of the third session of the 63rd US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 52 part 2 (13 January 1915), page 1514.

This prayer offered by Rabbi Dr. Moses Gaster, chief rabbi of the S&P Congregations of Britain on Yom Kippur, 30 September 1914 (10 Tishrei 5675), is found under the title, תפלה על מלחמה (Prayer for the time of War). The prayer was published in a short prayer-pamphlet entitled תפלה לעת מצוה (a prayer “For the Time When Thou Mayest Be Found” [Psalms 32׃6]).

This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the fourth month of the first session of the 63rd US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 51 part 10 (10 June 1914), page 10175.

The prayer for the sovereign as dedicated to the Austrian emperor (and King of Hungary) at the outset of World War Ⅰ.

“Feldmesten or Measuring the Graves” by Alter Abelson, appears in the section “The Modern Period” in The Standard Book of Jewish Verse (Joseph Friedlander and George Alexander Kohut, 1917), pp. 698-699. The poem may have first been published in the 26 September 1913 edition of the Hebrew Standard, p.10.

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 1 July 1912.

A prayer for the government of President William Howard Taft and Vice-President James Sherman offered by a first generation immigrant to the United States.

The prayer offered on the second day of the Republican National Convention by Rabbi Joseph Stolz as transcribed from, “Republican National Convention” in The Reform Advocate (22 June 1912), reporting on the invocation offered on the second day of the convention at the Chicago Coliseum in Chicago, Illinois on 19 June 1912.

The well known philosopher Bertrand Russell had little use for organized religion and in general was quite skeptical in his religious beliefs. I am not a regular reader of Russell but apparently Mordecai Kaplan read him from time to time. In the early 1940s he came across a short essay which Russell wrote many years before entitled “A Free Man’s Religious Worship” (1910). Kaplan mentions the essay a number of times in the diary and I am struck by the fact that Kaplan quotes and focuses on what he considers to be some positive statements in this essay. As a consequence I have been reading Russell and here offer some inspiring statements from this essay. I have taken the liberty of selecting my own statements from this essay. Russell is referring here to all our fellow human beings and our obligations to all others. It is obvious that in true reconstructionist fashion we could use these statements as a prayer. To pray from Russell would be an inspiration from Kaplan.

“The Word” by Lady Kate Magnus was published in her Book of verse (1905), on pages 7-8.

The opening prayer offered by Rabbi Joseph Silverman for “the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the Jews in the United States, 1655-1905,” at Carnegie Hall, New York City, Thanksgiving Day, 30 November 1905. The prayer was published in the Publications Of The American Jewish Historical Society number 14 (1906).

This prayer was prepared for use in a special service on the Sabbath before Thanksgiving Day, 1905, in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the settlement of Jews in the United States. It was published in The two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the Jews in the United States, 1655-1905 (New York Co-operative Society: 1906), pp. 253-256. (The prayer also appears in the 14th volume of Proceedings of the American Jewish Historical Society (1906).) It was prepared by a committee consisting of a seven-starred constellation of prominent Reform and early Conservative movement rabbis: Rabbi Dr. Henry Pereira Mendes (chair), Rabbi Dr. M.H. Harris, Rabbi Dr. Philip Klein, Rabbi Dr. Kaufmann Kohler, Rabbi Dr. Solomon Schechter, Rabbi Dr. Samuel Schulman, and Rabbi Dr. Joseph Silverman.

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 16 January 1905.

“O Tag des Herrn!” is a paraliturgical Kol Nidrei by Leopold Stein. Here it is translated from German to English by the Unitarian minister Frederick Lucian Hosmer on behalf of the Reform rabbi Isaac S. Moses. Hosmer’s translation appears in Hymns and Anthems for Jewish Worship (ed. Isaac S. Moses, 1904), hymn №107 pp. 69-71.

“Ʝehovah” was written by Israel Zangwill and first published in his collection of poetry, Blind Children (1903), pp. 132-133.

“Seder-Night” was written by Israel Zangwill and first published in his collection of poetry, Blind Children (1903), p. 117.

“The Hebrew’s Friday Night (After Burns)” was written by Israel Zangwill and first published in his collection of poetry, Blind Children (1903), pp. 114-116.

This translation of Ḥayyim Naḥman Bialik’s “Shabbat ha-Malkah” by Israel Meir Lask can be found on pages 280-281 in the Sabbath Prayer Book (Jewish Reconstructionist Foundation, 1945) where it appears as “Greeting to Queen Sabbath.” The poem is based on the shabbat song, “Shalom Alekhem” and first published in the poetry collection, Hazamir, in 1903. I have made a faithful transcription of the Hebrew and its English translation as it appears in the Sabbath Prayer Book. The first stanza of Lask’s translation was adapted from an earlier translation made by Angie Irma Cohon and published in 1920 in Song and Praise for Sabbath Eve (1920), p. 87. (Cohon’s translation of Bialik’s second stanza of “Shabbat ha-Malkah” does not appear to have been adapted by Lask.)

The poem, “Im Shamesh” (At Sunrise) by Ḥayyim Naḥman Bialik in June 1903.

This prayer for a pluralism respecting religious and philosophical differences, first appears in A Selection of Prayers, Psalms, and Other Scriptural Passages, and Hymns for Use at the Services of the Jewish Religious Union (1902), where it is №7 on page 6. (In the revised 1903 edition of the prayerbook, it is №20 on page 20.)

This prayer for communal prayer first appears in A Selection of Prayers, Psalms, and Other Scriptural Passages, and Hymns for Use at the Services of the Jewish Religious Union (1902), where it is №5 on page 6.

This prayer for the wellbeing of the Jewish people first appears in A Selection of Prayers, Psalms, and Other Scriptural Passages, and Hymns for Use at the Services of the Jewish Religious Union (1902), where it is №6 on page 6. (In the revised 1903 edition of the prayerbook, it is №19 on page 19.)

This Reform movement catechism by Rabbi J. Leonard Levy was first published as “Our Creed” in The Children’s Service for Use in Religious Schools (1902). In the second edition from 1904, it is found on page 207. There, Rabbi Levy’s verse is described as a “translation,” which from the credit of the melody to “Leoni” (Meyer Lyon, 1751-1797) might lead one to consider it a revised Reform movement adaptation of some setting of Thomas Oliver’s “God of Abraham” (ca. 1771, itself a Christian adaptation of Daniel ben Yehudah Dayyan’s “Yigdal”). A cross-comparison however reveals this is not the case. Over at the Hymnology Archive, Chris Fenner uncovered a rhymed English derivation of Yigdal by Newton Mann (1836-1926) made at the request of Rabbi Max Landsberg (1845-1927).

“Trustfulness” by Rabbi J. Leonard Levy was first published in The Children’s Service for Use in Religious Schools (1902). In the second edition from 1904, it is found on page 223.

“Onward!”, a hymn by Rabbi J. Leonard Levy was first published in The Children’s Service for Use in Religious Schools (1902). In the second edition from 1904, it is found on page 217.

“A Prayer” by Rabbi J. Leonard Levy was first published in The Children’s Service for Use in Religious Schools (1902). In the second edition from 1904, it is found on page 209.

“The Passover” by Rabbi J. Leonard Levy was first published in The Children’s Service for Use in Religious Schools (1902). In the second edition from 1904, it is found on page 227.

The invocation offered at the opening of the Democratic National Convention in Kansas City in 1900.

The poem “Tsafririm” (1900) by Ḥayyim Naḥman Bialik with an English translation by Ben Aronin.