Prayer at [the] Dedication of a Community Center (CCAR 1928)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Unknown and Central Conference of American Rabbis [CCAR]

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20 April 2026 under the Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

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20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., dedications and consecrations, English vernacular prayer

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Eternal God and Father! Thou hast given assurance of old that wherever Thy name is called in any assembly of Thy children, Thou comest among them to bless them.
	Gathered to dedicate this institution for the welfare of our fellow-men, Thy name comes spontaneously and gratefully to our lips, and we know that Thy spirit rests among us to enhearten and bless us.
	Humbly aware of our purpose and reverently conscious of Thy presence, we thank Thee for the blessed opportunities of unselfish activity and service it is designed to symbolize, and for the spirit of beneficence, and communal goodwill it is destined to generate among us.
	And as we accept and consecrate this structure to its noble purpose, we ask Thy help to prove ourselves worthy of it. Vouchsafe unto us the wisdom and the will to understand, and the enthusiasm and energy to perpetuate the lofty and sacred motives which this building embodies, not alone for our own good and that of our fellowmen, but also for the honor and glory of Thy holy name.
	To that end do Thou establish for us the work of our hands; yea, the work of our hands, establish Thou it. (Psalms 90:17) Amen.

This “Prayer at [the] Dedication of a Community Center” is included in CCAR’s Rabbi’s Manual (1928), p. 117.

Source(s)

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.)

Unknown

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Central Conference of American Rabbis [CCAR]

The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), founded in 1889 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the principal organization of Reform rabbis in the United States and Canada.

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Temple Beth Sholom at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Sixth Street in Sarasota (in the collection of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU)

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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 at [the] Dedication of a Community Center (CCAR 1928)

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