Prayer for the Government of the United States, by Rabbi Max Landsberg (1884)

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Aharon N. Varady (transcription) and Max Landsberg

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28 December 2025 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license

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19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., American Jewry of the United States, English vernacular prayer

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	We pray thee, O God of might, wisdom and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted and judgment decreed, assist with thy holy spirit of counsel and fortitude, the President of these United States;^[1] In 1884, the president of the United States was Chester Alan Arthur (1829–1886), the 21st president of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. He was a Republican from New York who previously served as the 20th vice president under President James A. Garfield. Assuming the presidency after Garfield’s assassination, Arthur’s administration saw the largest expansion of the US Navy, the end of the so-called “spoils system,” and the implementation of harsher restrictions for migrants entering from abroad. that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to thy people over whom he presides, by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws of justice and mercy, and by restraining vice and corruption.
	Let the light of thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all their proceedings and enactments framed for our rule and government; so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety and useful knowledge, and may perpetuate to us the blessings of equal liberty.
	We pray for the Governor of this State, for the members of assembly, for all judges, magistrates and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare; that they may be enabled, by thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.
	We recommend likewise to thy unbounded mercy all our brethren and fellow-citizens throughout the United States, that they may make progress in knowledge and enlightenment, and continually grow in reverence and virtue; that they may be preserved in union and peace, and enjoy the blessings of material and spiritual welfare in our beloved country, whose distinction it is to guard the consciences of all thy worshipers.
	We pray that thou mayest bless the universal community of Israel, and all the members of this our Israelitish congregation. Grant that our sacred institutions may prosper and graciously remember every effort made and every offering vowed for the promotion of our holy work.
	Grant that through us all the knowledge of thy will and the glory of thy name may be spread abroad, and that we may contribute more and more to the achievement of Israel’s mission, and confer thy blessing upon the whole human race, pronouncing to all peoples the ancient, three-fold, priestly benediction:
	[The Congregation rise.] May God bless thee and guard thee. (Numbers 6:24) May God let his countenance shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. (Numbers 6:25) May God lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:26) Choir and Congregation. Amen.

This is Rabbi Max Landsberg’s prayer for the government as found in his Ritual for Jewish Prayer (1884), pp. 30-32.

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Notes

Notes
1	In 1884, the president of the United States was Chester Alan Arthur (1829–1886), the 21st president of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. He was a Republican from New York who previously served as the 20th vice president under President James A. Garfield. Assuming the presidency after Garfield’s assassination, Arthur’s administration saw the largest expansion of the US Navy, the end of the so-called “spoils system,” and the implementation of harsher restrictions for migrants entering from abroad.

Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)

Max Landsberg

Max Landsberg (1845–1927), born in Berlin, Prussia, was the senior rabbi of the B'rith Kodesh Congregation, Rochester, New York, and one of the best known and most beloved Jewish religious leaders in the United States. He was the eldest son of the rabbi Meyer Landsberg (1810–1870) the rabbi of Hildesheim. After matriculating from high school in 1862, he studied philosophy and oriental philology at the universities of Göttingen and Breslau, completing his studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau where he received his rabbinical degree. In 1866, he earned a doctorate from the University of Halle. From 1867, he taught at the seminary in Hanover until 1871 when, on the recommendation of the Jewish reformer Abraham Geiger (1810–1874), he moved to Rochester where he was elected rabbi of the B'rith Kodesh congregation, taking up his appointment in March 1871. In addition to his religious duties, thanks to his scholarship and his interest in philanthropy, he was soon recognized as one of the city's most eminent citizens. By 1894, under his leadership the B'rith Kodesh congregation had grown to more than 250. Langsberg was also active in supporting Rochester's charitable societies, aimed at improving conditions for the poor and needy. Under the United Hebrew Charities of Rochester, these included the Hebrew Benevolent Society, established in 1850, and the Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Society (1865). He also contributed to social welfare and rights for immigrants, hosting events at the synagogue, including a presentation by the Danish-American social reformer Jacob Riis in 1901. Events were open to the public, in line with Landsberg's efforts to develop collaboration with Christian churches interested in similar objectives. For the JPS 1917 Tanakh, he translated the book of Genesis. He also published the Hymn book for Jewish worship (1880), Ritual for Jewish worship (1885), The position of woman among the Jews (1893), and Outline of the Jewish religion (1899).

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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 for the Government of the United States, by Rabbi Max Landsberg (1884)

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