[Prayer] on Becoming Engaged, by Lilian Helen Montagu (1895)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) and Lilian Helen Montagu

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7 May 2023 under the Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

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Engagements & Weddings

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West Central Girls' Club, 19th century C.E., תחינות teḥinot, 57th century A.M., Jewish Women's Prayers, English vernacular prayer, teḥinot in English

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	On becoming engaged.
	Almighty God,— I have this day promised my hand in marriage, and I now ask Thee to bless my act. The parents whom Thou hast appointed to guide my life, and who have bestowed on me, every day, blessings and kindnesses without number, have given their sanction to our union.
	My God, it is not hastily that I have decided to take this step. I have had ample opportunity to judge the character and temperament of him to whom I am betrothed. I am confident that with Thy blessing we shall be able to lead a life free from degrading dependence. I have examined my heart and am sure that I love with all my soul, and thoroughly trust him to whom I am about to plight my troth.^[1] Meaning, to bind oneself to another person in marriage.
	I know that married life is full of cares and responsibilities unknown to girlhood. I have resolved to try always to do my duty in my new home, to be true wife, companion, and friend.
	O God in heaven, strengthen my resolutions and let me not be afraid. Increase my faith in Thee. Make me conscious of Thy never-failing love, so that I may never be filled with shame and despair, that in all my trials and difficulties I may raise my eyes to Thee, my Rock and my Redeemer.
	A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. (Proverbs 12:4)

“On Becoming Engaged” was written by Lilian Helen Montagu and published in Prayers for Jewish Working Girls (1895), pp. 30-31.

Source(s)

Notes[+]

Notes
1	Meaning, to bind oneself to another person in marriage.

. Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication . 1.0 . Universal .

“[Prayer] on Becoming Engaged, by Lilian Helen Montagu (1895)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.

Aharon N. Varady (editing/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.)

Lilian Helen Montagu

The Hon. Lilian Helen "Lily" Montagu, CBE (22 December 1873 – 22 January 1963) was the first woman to play a major role in Progressive Judaism. Until the age of 15, she was educated at Doreck College, and privately educated thereafter. In 1893 she founded with Emily Marion Harris the West Central Jewish Girls Club (which subsequently merged into the Jewish Girls' Brigade). She was active in social improvement, particularly in respect to unemployment, sweat shops and bad housing. In 1901 and 1902, Montagu laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Jewish Religious Union in London. In February 1902 she arranged the first meeting of the Jewish Religious Union for the Advancement of Liberal Judaism at her sister Henrietta Franklin's house. The Union set up the first synagogue in Liberal Judaism in the UK and helped found the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Montagu was a founding member with her sister of the Jewish League for Woman Suffrage. She sat on the executive committee and led the meetings in prayer. Following the retirement of Leo Baeck, Montagu served for a brief stint (1955–1959) in her 80s as president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, before handing the reins over to Solomon Freehof.

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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