Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Michael Lotker, Temple Ner Ami, Camarillo, CA
Sponsor: Rep. Julia Brownley, (D-CA)
Date of Prayer: 06/18/2014
Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege to welcome a very good friend, Rabbi Michael Lotker, to be the guest chaplain of the House of Representatives today.
Rabbi Lotker is a teacher and a leader in Ventura County. He is the rabbi emeritus at Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo, California; the rabbi of Congregation Khilat HaAloneem in Ojai, California; and the community rabbi and teacher for the Jewish Federation of Ventura County. He is also a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Board of Rabbis of Southern California.
In addition to his work as a rabbi, Rabbi Lotker is an author and a physicist, with a focus on researching alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal.
Known for his quick–witted humor, Rabbi Lotker writes parody songs for each of the Jewish holidays throughout the year.
For his spiritual leadership and thoughtful words, I would like to thank Rabbi Lotker for leading us in prayer today. ;
Contribute a translation | Source (English) |
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Dear God, You sustain us and inspire us. Yours is the unity connecting all things created by You and directing us to serve You in unity of purpose, spirit, and strength. Bless us with the resources to do Your work. | |
The very name of this Nation, the United States, and the very name of this institution, the Congress, underlines the power and indeed the holiness of such unity. | |
I therefore humbly request Your most ancient blessing for the people of this great Nation and for their elected Representatives. | |
יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ יָאֵ֨ר יְהוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ יִשָּׂ֨א יְהוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ |
“May God bless you and protect you. May God’s light shine upon you and may God be gracious to you. May God’s face be lifted before you and may God grant you peace.”[1] The Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessing) Numbers 6:23–27 |
אָמֵן׃ |
Amen. |
Source(s)
113th Congress, 1st Session. Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 160, No. 95 — Daily Edition (June 18, 2014)
Link: https://chaplain.house.gov/chaplaincy/display_gc.html?id=2124

Notes
1 | The Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessing) Numbers 6:23–27 |
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“Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Michael Lotker on 18 June 2014” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.
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