United States of America • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ

This is an archive of prayers offered for the success of the democratically elected government of the United States of America and the well-being of its multicultural civil society.
Click here to contribute a prayer you have written for the United States.
Looking for something else?
For prayers offered for the well-being of one’s congregation and community, visit here.
For prayers offered on Inauguration Day in the United States, please visit here.
For prayers composed for Election Day (including early voting periods) in the United States, go here.
For opening prayers offered before legislative bodies, go here.
For prayers composed for social justice, peace, and liberty, go here.
For prayers offered for the well-being of the State of Israel, please visit here.

🆕 A Prayer for the United States of America in the Aftermath of an Act of Violence (14 July 2024)

Contributor(s):

David Abernethy

A prayer for the United States of America in the wake of the terrible events in Butler, Pennsylvania on 13 July 2024. . . .

🆕 Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the Virginia House of Delegates: Rabbi Julius Eckman (January 1850)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) and Julius Eckman

An opening prayer offered by the guest chaplain before the Virginia House of Delegates (1849-1850 legislative session) in the week of January 15-18, 1850, and published in The Richmond Enquirer (25 January 1850), p. 1. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Mendy Deitsch on 25 January 2024

Contributor(s):

Mendy Deitsch and the Congressional Record of the United States of America

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 25 January 2024. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Peter S. Berg on 12 December 2023

Contributor(s):

Peter S. Berg and the Congressional Record of the United States of America

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 12 December 2023 . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the Georgia State House of Representatives: Rabbi Dr. Miriam Udel on 2 February 2023

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription), Miriam Udel and State of Georgia House of Representatives

The invocation for the 11th day of the 157th session of the House of Representatives of the State of Georgia in the United States. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff on 9 August 2022

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Arnold E. Resnicoff

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 9 August 2022. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Mendy Greenberg on 31 March 2022

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Mendy Greenberg

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 31 March 2022. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Hannah Spiro on 11 March 2022

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Hannah Spiro

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 11 March 2022. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Moshe Feller on 11 January 2022

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Moshe Feller

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 11 January 2022. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff on 10 September 2021

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Arnold E. Resnicoff

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 10 September 2021. . . .

A Prayer for the United States of America Right Now, by Rabbi Menachem Creditor (2021)

Contributor(s):

Menachem Creditor

A prayer for America on the day upon which right-wing militias carried out an insurrection upon the representative democratic institution of the United States. . . .

Prayer for a Nation in Crisis, by Rabbi Barry Block (2021)

Contributor(s):

Barry Block

A prayer for the government on a day of violent insurrection in the heart of American democracy. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff on 23 October 2020

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Arnold E. Resnicoff

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 23 October 2020. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Seth Frisch on 5 February 2020

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Seth H. Frisch

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 5 February 2020. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Romi Cohn on 29 January 2020

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Romi Cohn

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 29 January 2020. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Barry Block on 10 January 2020

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Barry Block

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 10 January 2020. . . .

Benediction by Rabbi Lauren Berkun at the Democratic National Convention (2020)

Contributor(s):

Lauren Berkun

The full text of Rabbi Lauren Berkun’s benediction offered at the end of the third day of the Democratic National Convention, 20 August 2020. . . .

Prayer for Reparation and Restoration, an alternative to the Prayer for Welfare of the Government by Rabbi Brant Rosen (Tzedek Chicago 2020)

Contributor(s):

Brant Rosen and Congregation Tzedek Chicago

A prayer for collective and communal well-being with an emphasis on dismantling systems of oppression and repairing their harms. . . .

A Prayer for our Country, its Leaders and its Citizens, by David Abernethy (2020)

Contributor(s):

David Abernethy

A prayer for the United States, its leaders and government and its citizens — a personal response to things that were troubling me in the months before November’s election – in particular the level of divisiveness in our country, and what seemed to me to be a growing sense that it isn’t important to respect people we disagree with, and an ever more prevalent belief that we are entitled to decide for ourselves which rules to follow, and all that matters are own rights and our beliefs, not our responsibilities to one another. Inspired by the events of 2020 . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff on 30 December 2019

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Arnold E. Resnicoff

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 30 December 2019. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff on 26 December 2019

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Arnold E. Resnicoff

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 26 December 2019. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff on 29 November 2019

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Arnold E. Resnicoff

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 29 November 2019. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Steven Abraham on 20 November 2019

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Steven Abraham

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 20 November 2019. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Evan Hoffman on 29 October 2019

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Evan Hoffman

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 29 October 2019. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Gershon Avtzon on 25 July 2019

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Gershon Avtzon

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 25 July 2019. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Mark Getman on 24 July 2019

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Mark Getman

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 24 July 2019. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Lawrence Sernovitz on 4 June 2019

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Lawrence R. Sernovitz

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 4 June 2019. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Bruce Lustig on 16 May 2019

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Bruce Lustig

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 16 May 2019. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Claudio J. Kogan on 12 March 2019

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Claudio Kogan

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 12 March 2019. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff on 6 February 2019

Contributor(s):

Arnold E. Resnicoff and the Congressional Record of the United States of America

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 6 February 2019. . . .

תְּפִלָּה לְמַעַן אַרְצוֹת הַבְּרִית בְּעֵת נִסָּיוֹן | A Prayer for the United States at a Time of Trial, by Rabbi Joe Schwartz (2019)

Contributor(s):

Joe Schwartz

“A Prayer for the Spiritual Welfare of the United States at a Time of Trial,” by Rabbi Joe Schwartz was first published at The Forward on 28 June 2019. . . .

תְּפִלָּה בְּעַד מֶמְשֶׁלֶת שָׁלוֹם | Prayer for a Government of Peace, by Zackary Sholem Berger (2019)

Contributor(s):

Zackary Sholem Berger

A prayer for a government when that government is causing pain through malicious policies. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff on 20 November 2018

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Arnold E. Resnicoff

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 20 November 2018. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Hannah Spiro on 24 September 2018

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Hannah Spiro

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 24 September 2018. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Mark Schiftan on 20 June 2018

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Mark Schiftan

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 20 June 2018. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Steven I. Rein on 12 June 2018

Contributor(s):

Steven I. Rein and the Congressional Record of the United States of America

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 12 June 2018. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Aaron Krupnick on 6 June 2018

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Aaron Krupnick

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 6 June 2018. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Hannah Spiro on 29 May 2018

Contributor(s):

Hannah Spiro and the Congressional Record of the United States of America

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 29 May 2018. . . .

Memorial Day Prayer at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff on 28 May 2018

Contributor(s):

Arnold E. Resnicoff

A prayer offered by Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff at the Vietnam War Memorial on Memorial Day May 28th 2018. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Shlomo Segal on 25 April 2018

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Shlomo Segal

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 25 April 2018. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Seth H. Frisch on 27 February 2018

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Seth H. Frisch

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 27 February 2018. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Mara Nathan on 19 January 2018

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Mara Nathan

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 19 January 2018. . . .

Newly Huddled Tender Masses: A Prayer for Children, by Rabbi Menachem Creditor (2018)

Contributor(s):

Menachem Creditor

A plea to not become numb in the face of overwhelming cruelty. . . .

תפילה לארצות הברית לאחר הטבח בפּיטסבּורג | Prayer for the United States after the Pittsburgh Massacre, by Rabbi Stephen Belsky (2018)

Contributor(s):

Stephen Belsky

A prayer composed in the aftermath of the mass murder of the Dor Ḥadash community at the Ets Ḥayyim (Tree of Life) Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh on Shabbat morning 27 October 2018. . . .

A prayer for the recovery of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2018)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady

A prayer for the recovery of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after a dangerous fall she endured in her office on 8 November 2018. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner on 24 October 2017

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and David-Seth Kirshner

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 24 October 2017. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff on 1 September 2017

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Arnold E. Resnicoff

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 1 September 2017. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff on 18 August 2017

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Arnold E. Resnicoff

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 18 August 2017 . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Gary Klein on 27 June 2017

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Gary Klein

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 27 June2017. . . .

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Hershel Lutch on 21 June 2017

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America and Hershel Lutch

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 21 June2017. . . .

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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