By the grace of God,
Almighty God,
I invoke Your blessing today
on this august body,
the U.S. Senate.

In their divinely inspired wisdom,
the Founding Fathers of our blessed country,
the United States of America,
established a policy of separation
of church and state.
However, it was never their intention
to separate our country from You,
sovereign ruler of all mankind.
Hence, both legislative bodies of our blessed country
begin their sessions
invoking Your divine presence
and guidance in their legislation.
Hence, in our Pledge of Allegiance
we declare “one Nation under God,”
on our currency is printed “In God We Trust,”
and on the walls of this very Senate hall
in which we invoke Your blessing
is engraved in bold letters “In God We Trust.”

Grant, Almighty God,
that the Senators realize
that in legislating just laws
they are fulfilling one of the seven commandments^[1] Sanhedrin 56a; cf. Tosefta Avodah Zarah 9:4 and Genesis Rabbah 34:8. Six items were commanded to Adam: concerning idolatry, blasphemy, bloodshed, illicit sexuality, theft, and laws…God added to Noah, the law of not eating from the flesh of a live animal.” (Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 9:1). The impetus behind sharing the sheva mitsvot in the context of ḤaBaD Lubavitch originates with the following teaching of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson: “We must do everything possible to ensure that the seven Noahide laws are observed. If this can be accomplished through force or through other kinder and more peaceful means through explaining to non-Jews that they should accept God’s wishes [we should do so]…Anyone who is able to influence a non-Jew in any way to keep the seven commandments is obligated to do so, since that is what God commanded Moses our teacher,” (“Sheva Mitzvot Shel Benai Noach,” Hapardes 59:9 7-11, 5745).  
which You issued to Noah and his family
after the great flood
as related in the book of Genesis and its sacred commentaries–
the command that every society
govern by just laws.

Almighty God,
I beseech You today
to bless the Senate
in the merit of one of the spiritual giants
of our time and our Nation,
the Lubavitcher Rebbe,
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of saintly blessed memory,
who passed away 19 years ago today.
The Rebbe labored with great love,
dedication,
and self-sacrifice
to make all mankind aware
of Your sacred presence.

May his memory be for a blessing
and his merit be for a shield
for our government
and our Nation,
which he always referred to as “a nation of kindness.”^[2] lit. medina shel ḥesed. 

Amen.