Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Moshe Feller on 22 June 2004

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the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Moshe Feller

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

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Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies, United States of America

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Prayers of Guest Chaplains, U.S. Senate, שבע מצות בני נח Seven Noaḥide Commandments, חבּ״ד ḤaBaD Lubavitch, 108th Congress, תחינות teḥinot, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Moshe Feller, of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Sponsor:
Date of Prayer: 2004-06-22

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Almighty God, Master of the Universe, the Members of the U.S. Senate convene here today to fulfill one of the seven commandments which You first issued to Noaḥ and his family after the great flood, the command to govern by just laws.
	As related in the book of Genesis and its sacred commentaries, You issued at that time the following seven laws:^[1] Sanhedrin 56a; cf. Tosefta Avodah Zarah 9:4 and Genesis Rabbah 34:8. The following litany of mitsvot follows the teaching of Maimonides: “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). For a full list of the mitsvot bnei Noaḥ, find “The Seven Commandments for All Humanity (Bnei Noaḥ) in early Rabbinic sources.” 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). To worship You alone; Never to blaspheme Your Holy Name; Not to commit murder; Not to commit adultery, incest, or any sexual misdeeds; Not to steal, lie or cheat;^[2] A broad interpretation of gezel, taking without consent, i.e., theft. Not to be cruel to any living creature;^[3] A broad interpretation of ever min hê-ḥai, predatory behavior (literally, not [tearing] the limb of a living creature) and That every society govern by just laws based on the recognition and acknowledgment of You, O God, as the sovereign ruler of all men and all nations.
	Grant, Almighty God, that the Members of the Senate constantly realize that in enacting just laws they are performing your will.
	Almighty God, I beseech You today to bless the Senate and the entire Nation in the merit of one of the spiritual giants of our time and of our country, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous, blessed memory, who passed away 10 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 country, which he always referred to as “a country of kindness.”
	Amen.

Source(s)

108th Congress, 2nd Session. Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 150, No. 87 — Daily Edition (June 22, 2004)

Click to access CREC-2004-06-22-pt1-PgS7117-2.pdf

Notes[+]

Notes
1	Sanhedrin 56a; cf. Tosefta Avodah Zarah 9:4 and Genesis Rabbah 34:8. The following litany of mitsvot follows the teaching of Maimonides: “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). For a full list of the mitsvot bnei Noaḥ, find “The Seven Commandments for All Humanity (Bnei Noaḥ) in early Rabbinic sources.” 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).
2	A broad interpretation of gezel, taking without consent, i.e., theft.
3	A broad interpretation of ever min hê-ḥai, predatory behavior (literally, not [tearing] the limb of a living creature)

. Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication . 1.0 . Universal .

“Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Moshe Feller on 22 June 2004” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.

the Congressional Record of the United States of America

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)

Moshe Feller

Rabbi Moshe Feller is among the senior shluḥim (emissaries) of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt"l. He has been reaching out to fellow Jews in his native Minnesota since the early 1960s.

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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