Prayer on the Anniversary of a Congregation (CCAR 1928)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Unknown and Central Conference of American Rabbis [CCAR]

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

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20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., dedications and consecrations, English vernacular prayer, הקהל the ḳahal

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Our God, and God of our fathers! We rejoice to come together, at this festive hour, to offer praises unto Thee, the ever-present Guardian and Redeemer of Israel.
	Thine unfailing arm upholds all the generations of man. Thou didst gird our sires with strength, and didst bid them to build altars unto Thee, even this sanctuary where Thou mayest be worshipped. With Thine aid, they reached out their souls unto Thee, laboring to sanctify Thy holy name.
	And though, in the flight of years, leaders and followers alike have gathered whither the countless generations have gone before them,— for few of the founders of this congregation live to rejoice in this, its (Silver, Golden, etc.) Jubilee— yet we feel that their efforts were not in vain. They did not write on sand, in letters which the waves of time might wash away. Through their prayers and their example we, who follow in their footsteps, have been brought nearer unto Thee, to search after Thee with our minds and souls. Some of them have left a name behind, whose remembrance is sweet unto us; others have left no memorial, but their faithfulness has not been forgotten. In their death they bequeathed life unto us.
	May these sacred recollections stir us to meet our duties with renewed vigor, that we, too, may sanctify Thy name, O God, amidst all men.
	Children of a happy and prosperous land, may we not forget the priceless heritage of Israel, which shone to our fathers as a radiant star in lands of darkness and in the shadow of death.
	Confirm us in our hope, and strengthen the devotion of those whose ardor may have cooled. As a united band, may we preserve our heritage, that it bring joy unto us and quicken the generations of the future.
	We ask Thy blessing for this congregation. May it grow in service and in usefulness, that, through it, reverence and the fear of Thee be implanted in the hearts of men.
	Through our labors may this house become indeed, a house of prayer unto all peoples, that those who seek Thee here in meditation and service may truly find Thee.
	By word and action, may we, who worship here, serve Thee and sanctify Thy holy name! Amen. Amen.

This “Opening Prayer at a Service for Observance of a Congregational Anniversary” is included in CCAR’s Rabbi’s Manual (1928), pp. 130-132.

Source(s)

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.)

Unknown

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Central Conference of American Rabbis [CCAR]

The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), founded in 1889 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the principal organization of Reform rabbis in the United States and Canada.

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Synagogue service commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Ashkenazic Community of Amsterdam (1935) by Martin Monnickendam

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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 on the Anniversary of a Congregation (CCAR 1928)

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