Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Stephen Leon on 22 July 2009

Contributor(s):

United States Congressional Record and Stephen Leon

Shared on:

14 September 2019 under the Public Domain (17 U.S. Code §105 - Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works)

Categories:

United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies

Tags:

English vernacular prayer, House of Representatives, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, 111th Congress, El Paso, תחינות teḥinot, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M.

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Stephen Leon, Congregation B’nai Zion, El Paso, TX
Sponsor: Rep. Silvestre Reyes, (D-TX)
Date of Prayer: 07/22/2009

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, it is a real honor and privilege to have Rabbi Leon here this morning in this great people’s House.
I want to especially welcome not just the rabbi but members of his family that are here. I know that back in my district, back in El Paso, people have gotten up extra early to see the rabbi give our opening prayer.
It’s a real honor and a real privilege and pleasure.

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
	O Lord, “This is the day that God has made, on it may we rejoice.”^[1] Psalms 118.24.
	These words from the Book of Psalms reflect the thoughts that are in my heart on this glorious day. Imagine if every person each day would arise and thank God for one more day of life, for one more precious moment to make a difference for good in this world.
	How fortunate I feel to live in this blessed country of America where a Rabbi from El Paso, Texas is given the opportunity to offer a prayer before this historic assembly which represents the highest ideals of democracy.
	May each of us here realize what awesome moments God gives us each day and may we in partnership with the Almighty help speed that day when every person in the world will be privileged to live in peace and freedom.
אָמֵן׃	Amen.

Source(s)

111th Congress, 1st Session
Issue: Vol. 155, No. 111 — Daily Edition (July 22, 2009)

Link: https://chaplain.house.gov/chaplaincy/display_gc.html?id=1068

Notes[+]

Notes
1	Psalms 118.24.

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“Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Stephen Leon on 22 July 2009” is shared by the living contributor(s) with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.

United States Congressional Record

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress, published by the United States Government Printing Office and issued when Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks. At the end of a session of Congress, the daily editions are compiled in bound volumes constituting the permanent edition. Statutory authorization for the Congressional Record is found in Chapter 9 of Title 44 of the United States Code. (wikipedia)

Stephen Leon

Rabbi Stephen A. Leon is rabbi emeritus of Congregation B'nai Zion of El Paso, Texas, having served from 1986 to the present. He was born in Brooklyn, New York abd graduated from Colombia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, receiving his ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion. Rabbi Leon was the dean of the Academy for Jewish Religion from 1974 through 1986. He also was an instructor in Homiletics, Practical Rabbinics, and Cantillations. At the same time, Rabbi Leon served as the rabbi of Elmwood Park Jewish Center in New Jersey from 1971 through 1986. He served on the boards of the bioethics committee of Providence Hospital, El Paso Hospice, the Jewish Federation, and the Holocaust Museum. Rabbi Leon wrote numerous articles published in the Paterson News, El Paso Times, and The Jewish Voice of El Paso. He taught in the Religious Studies department of the University of Texas at El Paso. He has appeared on National Public Radio and has made numerous appearances on local television programs. Rabbi Leon has received awards from Israel Bonds, the Israel government Tourist Office, Hadassah, the Bergen County Board of Rabbis, United Synagogue Youth, and others. In 1999, Rabbi Leon received a grant from the El Paso Community Foundation and visited many places in Europe where Crypto-Jews have lived, including Belmont, Portugal where 300 Crypto-Jews formally returned to Judaism. Rabbi Leon is a trusted friend and teacher for the Anusim and has helped many individuals and families make their return to Judaism.

Stable Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=27110

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "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