Our Heavenly Father,
we have turned our attention
to the vast reaches of outer space,
but we know all too well
the harrowing problems
that continue to plague us here on earth.
The mysteries of Thy universe beckon to us,
but the hard realities of this planet
will not leave us.

If one crisis follows another,
it is because our earth has become
a tiny, shrunken, little planet.
Neither the depths of the seas
nor the heights of the mountains
separate men from men,
or nation from nation.
Millions of human beings live,
as it were, in one neighborhood,
even on a single block.
And from out of the dim past
comes Thine inspired word
“v-ahavtah l’reakha kamokha”—
“thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Leviticus 19:18)

Cause us, O Lord,
to know that love
and teach us that we may apply it
to all men wherever they may be,
for the checkered history of man
proves beyond all question
that hatred only breeds more hatred
and war only breeds more war.
Only through love
can these vicious cycles ever be broken—
through our love of Thee,
the love of our neighbor,
the love of our fellow man.

In the words we render in the synagogue each Sabbath Day
we invoke Thy blessing [Tefilah b’ad hamemshalah]^[1] The text here was replaced by the editors of the Congressional Record with a double quote followed by a dinkus (three asterisks) — “* * *. Perhaps this was done out of concern for transliterating the name of the Hebrew prayer in error, or some related puzzlement. While we cannot know with certainty, the words here were likely provided the Hebrew title of the prayer used in Conservative movement congregations: Rabbi Dr. Louis Ginzberg’s Prayer for the Government. Alternately, the words may have referred to another common traditional prayer, Hanoten Teshuah.  upon our country,
on the Government of this Republic,
the President of these United States,
and all who exercise just and rightful authority.
Do Thou instruct them out of Thy law,
that they may administer all affairs of state
in justice and equity,
that peace and security,
happiness and prosperity,
right and freedom,
may forever abide among us
and among all the inhabitants
of this earth.”
Amen.