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Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth

The Office of the Chief Rabbi is the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and is the senior rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations. The present incumbent is Ephraim Mirvis who leads the Office of the Chief Rabbi (OCR).

https://chiefrabbi.org

📖 [Abridged] Prayer Book for Jewish Members of His Majesty’s Forces (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire 1940)

Contributed on: 20 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (digital imaging and document preparation) | Joseph Herman Hertz | Mark Gollop | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

An abridged prayer book for Jewish personnel in the service of the British armed forces in 1940, prepared by the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Empire, Joseph H. Hertz, based upon the 1917 prayer book offered during the first World War. . . .


📖 [Abridged] Prayer Book for Jewish Sailors and Soldiers [in H.M. Forces] (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire 1914)

Contributed on: 22 Jun 2022 by Michael Adler | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

A bilingual Hebrew-English prayerbook for soldiers and sailors in the service of His Majesty’s army and navy during World War One . . .


Armistice Day Prayer, by Rabbi Jospeh H. Hertz (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire 1923)

Contributed on: 17 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Joseph Herman Hertz | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

This “Armistice Day Prayer” was composed in 1923 by the Office of the Chief Rabbi on the Anniversary of the cessation of conflict on November 11th marking the end of the Great War (later known as World War I). . . .


מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ לְפִדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִם | Mi sheBerakh for the redemption of those in captivity (or whose whereabouts are unknown)

Contributed on: 08 Oct 2023 by Ephraim Mirvis | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth | Unknown Author(s) |

This mi sheberakh was published by the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth in June 2014, as “Prayer Issued for Missing Israeli Teenagers,” writing: “The prayer…currently being recited across Israel for missing teenagers Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, was issued today to Rabbanim of the United Hebrew Congregations by Chief Rabbi Mirvis.” Recitation of this psalm and mi sheberakh seem appropriate to me in the case of unconscionable, immoral, and unjust state policies that separate children from their caregivers. To help fulfill the mitsvah of ransoming captives, please contribute to funds paying out bail bonds and demonstrate your opposition to these policies. . . .


Prayer Amid the Pandemic, by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth 2020)

Contributed on: 27 Mar 2020 by Ephraim Mirvis | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

A prayer from the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom amidst the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. . . .


Prayer at the Consecration of the Central Synagogue by chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler (7 April 1870)

Contributed on: 29 Jun 2024 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Nathan Marcus Adler | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

The prayer at the consecration of the Central Synagogue (in London) offered by the chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Empire, Nathan Marcus Adler, on 7 April 1870. The prayer was reprinted in “A Sermon By the Chief Rabbi,” The Israelite, vol. 117 part 14 (29 April 1870), page 9. . . .


Prayer Before a Battle (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire 1940)

Contributed on: 20 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Joseph Herman Hertz | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

“Prayer Before a Battle” appears at the start of Prayer Book of Jewish Members of H.M. Forces (Office of the Chief Rabbi 1940), p. 5. . . .


תפילה לעזרת היהודים תושבי גרמניה | Prayer for German Jewry under Nazi oppression before and after Kristallnacht (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire 1938)

Contributed on: 10 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Joseph Herman Hertz | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

An untitled prayer on behalf of German Jewry under Nazi oppression disseminated in Bombay, likely after Kristallnacht (9-10 November 1938). . . .


Prayer for Israel, Tishrei 5784 by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth, 12 October 2023)

Contributed on: 12 Oct 2023 by Ephraim Mirvis | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

A prayer for Israel offered by the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, Efraim Mirvis on 12 October 2023, in the aftermath of the massacres perpetrated by HAMA”S and their allies in Gaza on the residents and citizens of the State of Israel on Shemini Atseret 5784. The prayer was originally published on the website of the Office of the Chief Rabbi and disseminated via its social media accounts. . . .


Prayer for Military Personnel on Active Service (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire 1940)

Contributed on: 20 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Joseph Herman Hertz | Mark Gollop | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

“Prayer for Men on Active Service” is the opening prayer in the Prayer Book of Jewish Members of H.M. Forces (Office of the Chief Rabbi 1940), p. 4. . . .


Prayer for Peace in Israel, by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth, 2003)

Contributed on: 09 Apr 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Jonathan Sacks | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

According to the Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust (RSLT), “A Prayer for Peace in Israel” was composed by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks following terror attacks in Israel in 2003 (i.e., during the Second Intifada). The text of the prayer appearing here was shared by the RSLT via their Facebook page in the context of the 2022 Tel Aviv Shooting. . . .


Prayer for Sailors and Soldiers on Active Service, by Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire 1914)

Contributed on: 22 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Joseph Herman Hertz | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

“Prayer for Sailors and Soldiers on Active Service,” was likely written by Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz and published at the outset of the Prayer Book for Jewish Sailors and Soldiers [of H.M. Forces] (Office of the Chief Rabbi 1914), p. 5. . . .


Prayer for the cessation of a cattle plague and for protection from cholera, by Chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler (1865)

Contributed on: 14 Jul 2024 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Nathan Marcus Adler | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

This is a prayer for cattle afflicted by an epizootic contagion (in this case, Rinderpest, a/k/a cattle plague), and for the protection of human beings from cholera, prescribed by the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain, Nathan Marcus Adler, and published in The Hebrew Leader (24 November 1865), p. 1. . . .


תפלה למספד על המלך גארג | Prayer for the Memorial Service of King George Ⅵ (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth, 15 February 1952)

Contributed on: 10 Sep 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Isidor Grunfeld | Alexander Altmann | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

This is the prayer offered at the “Memorial Service on Friday, 15th February, 1952 (Eve of Sabbath, 19th Shebat, 5712) at the New West End Synagogue (London, W. 2) for His Late Majesty King George (VI)” as given by the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth (officiated by Dayan Dr. I. Grunfeld and Rabbi Dr. A. Altmann, M.A. [Joint Deputies for the Chief Rabbi], the Rev. Ephraim Levine, M.A., the Rev. R.H. Levy, M.A.). Many thanks to Jeffrey Maynard for providing the page images of the service containing this prayer at his blog, Jewish Miscellanies. . . .


תפילה עבור המלך | Prayer for the Monarch at the Coronation of King Charles Ⅲ, by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth 2023)

Contributed on: 01 May 2023 by Ephraim Mirvis | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

The Prayer for the Monarch included in the “Prayers of Thanksgiving and Supplication to Mark the Coronation of their Majesties King Charles Ⅲ and Queen Camilla, Shabbat 6th May, 2023 (15 Iyar, 5783)” as circulated via PDF. . . .


Prayer for the People of Ukraine, by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth, 2022)

Contributed on: 24 Feb 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Ephraim Mirvis | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

“Prayer for the People of Ukraine” was written by the chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, Ephraim Mirvis, and shared via the Twitter account of the Office of the Chief Rabbi. . . .


Prayer for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ, by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth 2022)

Contributed on: 04 Jun 2022 by Ephraim Mirvis | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

This Prayer for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was shared by the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, Ephraim Mirvis, on 25 May 2022, via their website. . . .


הַנּוֹתֵן תְּשׁוּעָה | Prayer for the Royal Family and Armed Forces of King Charles Ⅲ (2022)

Contributed on: 08 Sep 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth | Unknown Author(s) |

This is the formula of the prayer for the government established by chief rabbi Joseph H. Hertz as introduced in 1935 for King George IV at the Royal Jubilee Service and included in his revised Authorised Prayer Book, vol. II (1942/3), p. 506-507. In 2014, this formula was amended by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis of the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK and the Commonwealth, to include a short passage in recognition of the United Kingdom’s armed forces. . . .


הַנּוֹתֵן תְּשׁוּעָה | Prayer for the Royal Family and Armed Forces of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ (2014)

Contributed on: 06 Jun 2022 by Ephraim Mirvis | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth | Unknown Author(s) |

In 2014, the formula of “haNoten Teshua” suggested by the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK and the Commonwealth, was amended by the chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, to include a short passage in recognition of the United Kingdom’s armed forces. . . .


Prayer for the Success of the Conference on Palestine Convened by His Majesty’s Government (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, 19 February 1939)

Contributed on: 18 Jul 2023 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Joseph Herman Hertz | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

A prayer for the success of the London Conference of 1939 which ultimately resulted in the publication of the 1939 White Paper. . . .


Prayer for the Success of the Four-Power Conference at Geneva, by Rabbi Israel Brodie (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth, 16 July 1955)

Contributed on: 17 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Israel Brodie | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

This “Prayer for the Success of the Four-Power Conference at Geneva, Switzerland (18 July 1955)” was composed in 1955 by the Office of the Chief Rabbi (of the United Hebrew Congregations of the UK and the Commonwealth) for the success of a meeting of the “Big Four” (President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States, Prime Minister Anthony Eden of Britain, Premier Nikolai A. Bulganin of the Soviet Union, and Prime Minister Edgar Faure of France), ostensibly to promote international trade, but hopefully as well, to reduce international tensions and make some progress towards ending the Cold War. . . .


הַנּוֹתֵן תְּשׁוּעָה | Prayer in honour of the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ, by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth 2016)

Contributed on: 04 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Ephraim Mirvis | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

This “Prayer in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday,” was first delivered by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis for the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth on Shabbat 11th June 2016, and shared via their website in English. Side-by-side with the English we have set the Hebrew text from the formula of the traditional prayer “haNoten Teshua” as used by the Office of the Chief Rabbi as amended in 2014. . . .


Prayer of Intercession [for Britain in the War against Nazi Germany], by Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire 1940)

Contributed on: 21 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Joseph Herman Hertz | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

“Prayer for Intercession,” almost certainly written by Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz, was published in the Prayer Book of Jewish Members of H.M. Forces (Office of the Chief Rabbi 1940), pp. 18-19. . . .


תפילת הודיה לחברה למניעת אכזריות לילדים | Prayer of Thanksgiving for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (1954)

Contributed on: 03 Jan 2019 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

Prayer of Thanksgiving on the Occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, to Be Recited on Sabbath 22nd May 1954 / 19th Iyyar 5714 after the Prayer of the Queen and the Royal Family (London: 1954, Office of the Chief Rabbi) . . .


Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks on 2 November 2011

Contributed on: 24 Nov 2018 by the Congressional Record of the United States of America | Jonathan Sacks | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 2 November 2011. . . .


Prayer on the Declaration of War [against Imperial Germany], by Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire 1914)

Contributed on: 22 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Joseph Herman Hertz | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

“Prayer Composed by the Chief Rabbi on the Declaration of War. (August 1914.),” by Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz, was published in the Prayer Book for Jewish Sailors and Soldiers [of H.M. Forces] (Office of the Chief Rabbi 1914), p. 32. . . .


Prayer on the Declaration of War [against Nazi Germany], by Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire 1940)

Contributed on: 20 Jun 2022 by Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) | Joseph Herman Hertz | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

This prayer for victory and deliverance in the war against Nazi Germany, simply titled “War Prayer,” appears in the Prayer Book of Jewish Members of H.M. Forces (Office of the Chief Rabbi 1940), pp. 16-17. Sections of the prayer were adapted from the prayer on the declaration of war by Rabbi Hertz in 1914 at the outset of World War I. In the preface to the payer book, Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz specifically mentions this prayer, among others, as having been newly revised for this publication. The initial version of the prayer, likely to have been written by Rabbi Hertz, was published by the Office of the Chief Rabbi for a 17 Tammuz service in July 1938. A revision was disseminated after Kristallnacht (9-10 November 1938). This is the third version of the prayer. . . .


Prayer to Mark the Passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ, by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the UK & the Commonwealth 2022)

Contributed on: 08 Sep 2022 by Ephraim Mirvis | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth |

This is “A Prayer to mark the passing of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth” offered by Rabbi Mirvis, Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth after her death on 8 September 2022. The text was transcribed from a PDF disseminated from the website of the Office of the Chief Rabbi. . . .


תהלים קמ״ב | Psalms 142, a maskil with translations in English and Arabic

Contributed on: 16 Jun 2014 by Ephraim Mirvis | Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth | David ben Yishai (traditional attribution) |

Psalms 142, traditionally attributed to King David, with translations in English and Arabic. . . .