Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff on 9 August 2022

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Arnold E. Resnicoff

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9 August 2022 under the Public Domain (17 U.S. Code §105 - Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works)

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🇺🇸 United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies

Tags:

117th Congress, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, U.S. House of Representatives, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, תחינות teḥinot

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, US Navy chaplain (retired), Washington, D.C.
Date of Prayer: 9 August 2022

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Almighty God, we pray, reflect, meditate in different ways, but historic cherished words become shared dreams.
	Elmer Davis wrote “This nation shall be the land of the free Only so long as it is the home of the brave.”^[1] Elmer Davis (1890-1958) at the end of the first chapter, “In the Perilous Night,” in But We Were Born Free (1954), p. 115.
	But not all are yet truly free, and many not so brave.
	Military heroes risk their lives, But many others lack sufficient courage to speak truth to power, To champion truth over position or career.
	“Liberty and justice for all,” we pledge,^[2] From the Pledge of Allegiance by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931): “I pledge Allegiance to my Flag, [to] the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” in Youth’s Companion, 8 September 1892.”) “Proclaim liberty throughout the land,”^[3] Cf. Leviticus 25:10. Emblazoned on our Bell.
	As war approached, FDR affirmed “Freedom from want” and “freedom from fear”^[4] From Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech, as part of his Annual Message to Congress (State of the Union Address) on 6 January 1941. As freedoms more like dreams of better times.
	The land of the free if the home of the brave – With leaders strong and of good courage who still can say “I have a dream.” Diversity our strength, equality our goal, May we strive for, move toward, liberty and justice for us all.
	And may we say “Amen.”

Source(s)

117th Congress, 2nd Session. C-SPAN. Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 168, No. 134 — Daily Edition (August 9, 2022)

Notes

Notes
1	Elmer Davis (1890-1958) at the end of the first chapter, “In the Perilous Night,” in But We Were Born Free (1954), p. 115.
2	From the Pledge of Allegiance by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931): “I pledge Allegiance to my Flag, [to] the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” in Youth’s Companion, 8 September 1892.”)
3	Cf. Leviticus 25:10.
4	From Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech, as part of his Annual Message to Congress (State of the Union Address) on 6 January 1941.

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)

Arnold E. Resnicoff

Arnold E. Resnicoff (born 1946) is a Conservative rabbi who began his career serving as a military officer and then as a military chaplain. He served in Vietnam and Europe before attending rabbinical school after which he was a U.S. Navy Chaplain for almost 25 years. After the Vietnam War, he promoted the creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and delivered the closing prayer at its 1982 dedication. Rabbi Resnicoff was present at the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and the following year, President Ronald Reagan shared Rabbi Resnicoff's eyewitness account. After retiring from the military he became the National Director of Interreligious Affairs for the American Jewish Committee and served as Special Assistant (for Values and Vision) to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, serving at the equivalent military rank of Brigadier General. Resnicoff holds several degrees, including an honorary doctorate. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service, and the Chapel of Four Chaplains Hall of Heroes Gold Medallion.

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "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)

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff on 9 August 2022

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