Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Jacob M. Sable, Riverdale Jewish Center, Bronx, New York
Sponsor: n/a
Date of Prayer: 25 February 1960
Sponsor: n/a
Date of Prayer: 25 February 1960
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Almighty God, Father of all men, as the shadows of darkness pass before the rays of heaven and a new day of creation begins, we invoke Thy blessings upon the work of our hands and the creative spirit of our minds. | |
Strengthen our will, we pray Thee, Heavenly Father, to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before Thee. Guard our tongues from speaking evil and our lips from speaking guile.[1] From the closing prayer of the Amidah, “Elohai netsor” Inspire us to perform good deeds and righteous acts before Thee. | |
May the wisdom and courageous spirit of our first President, George Washington, ever serve as a lantern to illumine the steps of the dedicated men and women who serve Thee in the Halls of Congress. May his words, “to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance,”[2] From George Washington’s “Letter to the Jews of Newport,” August 17th, 1790. serve as a powerful citation of democracy. | |
May every Congressman and Congresswoman be endowed with determination to place righteousness above expediency. Gird them with steadfastness and fortitude to achieve freedom and progress for human society and grant to all men the spirit and the right to live and work, to think and speak, in accordance with the dictates of their good conscience. | |
Oh Lord, grant them strength and bless us and all mankind with Thy most precious gift, peace. Amen. |
This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the second month of the second session of the 86th US Congress in the House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 106, part 3 (1960), page 3483.
Source(s)
Notes
1 | From the closing prayer of the Amidah, “Elohai netsor” |
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2 | From George Washington’s “Letter to the Jews of Newport,” August 17th, 1790. |
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“Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Jacob M. Sable on 25 February 1960” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.
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