Contributed by: Miriam del Banco, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
The prayer-poem ““Mene, Mene, Tekel Upharsin”” by Miriam del Banco (1858-1931) was included in her posthumously published anthology, Poetry and Prose (1932), p. 94-95.
Contributed by: Miriam del Banco, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
The prayer-poem “Night” by Miriam del Banco (1858-1931) was included in her posthumously published anthology, Poetry and Prose (1932), p. 90-91.
Contributed by: Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Abraham Cronbach
This prayer, entitled “[Prayer for] Our Enemies,” was published in The Jewish Peace Book for Home and School (1932) under “Section Ⅲ: Peace Devotions for Jewish Use — Prayers for Peace” on pages 100-101. This prayer seems to me to be inspired by (or a reformulation of) the traditional twelfth blessing of the weekday Amidah, שׁוֹבֵר אוֹיְבִים וּמַכְנִיעַ זֵדִים shovér oyvim u-makhniya zedim (“who breaks enemies and overpowers evil ones”) a/k/a la-malshinim or al haminim.
Contributed by: Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Abraham Cronbach
This prayer, entitled “[Prayer for] Our Country,” was published in The Jewish Peace Book for Home and School (1932) under “Section III: Peace Devotions for Jewish Use — Prayers for Peace” on page 100.
Contributed by: Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Abraham Cronbach
This prayer, entitled “[Prayer for] Unity,” was published in The Jewish Peace Book for Home and School (1932) under “Section III: Peace Devotions for Jewish Use — Prayers for Peace” on page 100. Following the prayer, Rabbi Cronbach notes the prayer is “from Peace Service, compiled by [the] National Council for the Prevention of War (NCPW).” The prayer reads to me as alternative formulation of the prayer Shfokh Ḥamatkha offered at the traditional pouring of Elijah’s cup before the Pesaḥ seder’s Hallel service.
Contributed by: Herbert Loewe, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
A “Prayer for the University” found in the Seder ha-Tefilah (Order of Service) arranged by the Jewish community of Oxford, England in 1931 at a special event celebrating the centenary of the scholar and librarian at the Bodleian Library, Dr. Adolf Neubauer (1831-1907).
Contributed by: Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Julius Mark, the Congressional Record of the United States of America
This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the second month of the first session of the 72nd US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 74 part 3 (16 January 1931), page 2370.
Contributed by: Emma Goldman, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
A teachable moment in the life of Emma Goldman to reflect upon whether our practice is liberating or in need of liberation.
Contributed by: Alter Abelson, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
The poem “Wormicide” (1931) by Rabbi Alter Abelson.
Contributed by: Alter Abelson, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
The poem “Sambatyon” (1931) by Rabbi Alter Abelson.
Contributed by: Alter Abelson, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
The poem “The Phylacteries” (1931) by Rabbi Alter Abelson.
Contributed by: Alter Abelson, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
The poem “Friday Eve” by Rabbi Alter Abelson (1931).
Contributed by: Albert G. Baum, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
“A Prayer for Our Teachers” by Rabbi Albert G. Baum was written sometime before 1962. Unfortunately, no more information was provided by Rabbi David Bial in his anthology, An Offering of Prayer (1962), p. 64, from where this prayer was transcribed. Possibly, the prayer was written while Baum served as principal of the Park Avenue Synagogue Hebrew School in the late 1920s or as rabbi for Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim in Alexandria, Louisiana during the 1930s. If you know more, please leave a comment or contact us.
Contributed by: Simon Glazer, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
A prayer for lifegiving sustenance.
Contributed by: Albert Einstein, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
This is Albert Einstein’s essay in English, “What I Believe” as published in Forum and Century 84 (October 1930), no. 4, 193–194, set next to his essay in German, “Wie ich die Welt sehe” (How I see the World) as published in Mein Weltbild (1934). The German version includes some thoughts elided in the English which I hope are elucidated in my translation into English of the German version. David E. Rowe and Robert Schulman (in Einstein on Politics 2007, p. 226) note, “The text was reproduced several times under the title ‘The World as I See It,’ most notably in Mein Weltbild and Ideas and Opinions, and in 1932 the German League of Human Rights released a phonograph recording of Einstein reading a slightly variant version entitled “Confession of Belief.” [It]…differs significantly from that in [published in Ideas and opinions: based on Mein Weltbild by] Einstein (in) 1954.”
Contributed by: Morrison David Bial, Albert Einstein, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
“Man Is Here for the Sake of Others,” a short excerpt from a longer essay by Albert Einstein, was included by Rabbi Morrison David Bial in his collection of supplemental prayers and texts for personal prayer and synagogue services: An Offering of Prayer (Temple Sinai of Summit, New Jersey, 1962). The full text of Einstein’s essay appeared under the title “What I Believe” in Forum and Century 84 (October 1930), no. 4, p. 193-194. David E. Rowe and Robert Schulman (in Einstein on Politics 2007, p. 226) note, “The text was reproduced several times under the title ‘The World as I See It,’ most notably in Mein Weltbild and Ideas and Opinions, and in 1932 the German League of Human Rights released a phonograph recording of Einstein reading a slightly variant version entitled ‘Confession of Belief.'”
Contributed by: Abram Simon, the Congressional Record of the United States of America, Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the second month of the first session of the 71st US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 71 part 2 (29 May 1926), page 2173.
Contributed by: Aharon N. Varady (transcription), William F. Rosenblum, the Congressional Record of the United States of America
This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the sixth month of the first session of the 70th US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 68 part 7 (30 April 1928), page 7438.
Contributed by: Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Unknown, Central Conference of American Rabbis [CCAR]
This “Opening Prayer at a Service for Observance of a Congregational Anniversary” is included in CCAR’s Rabbi’s Manual (1928), pp. 130-132.
Contributed by: Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Unknown, Central Conference of American Rabbis [CCAR]
This “Prayer at [the] Dedication of a Community Center” is included in CCAR’s Rabbi’s Manual (1928), p. 117.

