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Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

This is an archive of prayers composed for, or relevant to, demands for social justice, peace, and liberty.

Click here to contribute a prayer you have written, or a transcription and translation of a historical prayer.

Resources filtered by TAG: “20th century C.E.” (clear filter)

Sorted Chronologically (old to new). Sort most recent first?

Prayer on Behalf of the Religious Diversity of Humanity, by the Jewish Religious Union of London (1902)

This prayer for a pluralism respecting religious and philosophical differences, first appears in A Selection of Prayers, Psalms, and Other Scriptural Passages, and Hymns for Use at the Services of the Jewish Religious Union (1902), where it is №7 on page 6. (In the revised 1903 edition of the prayerbook, it is №20 on page 20.)

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., אחדות aḥdut (togetherness), English vernacular prayer, pluralism, tolerance of difference, universalist prayers

Contributor(s):

Claude Montefiore, Morris David Joseph, Lilian Helen Montagu, the Jewish Religious Union of London and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

A Passover Prayer [for Jews in the United States], by Rabbi Norman Salit (ca. 1920s)

“A Passover Prayer” was written by Rabbi Norman Salit and published in Rabbi Jacob Bosniak’s לקוטי תפלות Liḳutei Tefilot: Pulpit and Public Prayers (1927), pp. 46-47.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty, 7th Day of Pesaḥ

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., American Jewry of the United States, Americanism, bigotry, liberty

Contributor(s):

Norman Salit and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

A Sukkot Prayer [for Jews in the United States], by Rabbi Norman Salit (ca. 1920s)

This untitled prayer was written by Rabbi Norman Salit and published in Rabbi Jacob Bosniak’s לקוטי תפלות Liḳutei Tefilot: Pulpit and Public Prayers (1927), pp. 35-36 (in the section titled “Prayers for Succoth”).

Categories:

Sukkot, Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., American Jewry of the United States, Americanism, bigotry, liberty

Contributor(s):

Norman Salit and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

תפלה להצלחת ועד השלום בװאשינגטון | Prayer for the Success of the Disarmament Conference at Washington, by Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz (Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations, 12 November 1921)

This “Prayer for the Success of the Disarmament Conference at Washington [D.C.]” (12 November 1921) was prepared by the Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Empire, Joseph Herman Hertz. The prayer was recited on Shabbat after the prayer for the British royal family.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., British Jewry, military, United Kingdom, Washington Naval Conference, World War Ⅰ

Contributor(s):

Joseph Herman Hertz, Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Ignorance and Evil, a prayer for progress in combatting social ills (CCAR 1923)

“Ignorance and Evil” is the thirteenth prayer found in ברכה ותהלה Blessing and Praise: A Book of Meditations and Prayers for Individual and Home Devotion (CCAR 1923), pp. 47-49.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., Aseret Yemei Tshuvah, education, English vernacular prayer, restorative justice, social justice, teḥinot in English

Contributor(s):

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

Conciliation, a prayer to yield amidst contention (CCAR 1923)

“Conciliation” is the fourteenth prayer found in ברכה ותהלה Blessing and Praise: A Book of Meditations and Prayers for Individual and Home Devotion (CCAR 1923), pp. 50-52.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., Aseret Yemei Tshuvah, English vernacular prayer, Jewish pacifism, non-violence, peace, teḥinot in English

Contributor(s):

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

Hospitality, an exhortation to recognize and transcend social class segregation (CCAR 1923)

“Hospitality” is the thirtieth prayer found in ברכה ותהלה Blessing and Praise: A Book of Meditations and Prayers for Individual and Home Devotion (CCAR 1923), pp. 102-104.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, exhortation, hospitality, social class, social justice, teḥinot in English, תוכחות tokheḥot

Contributor(s):

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

Righteousness, an exhortation to pursue justice (CCAR 1923)

“Righteousness” is the twenty-ninth prayer found in ברכה ותהלה Blessing and Praise: A Book of Meditations and Prayers for Individual and Home Devotion (CCAR 1923), pp. 99-101.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, exhortation, Justice, social justice, teḥinot in English, תוכחות tokheḥot, צדק צדק תרדוף tsedeq tsedeq tirdof

Contributor(s):

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

Vision and Hope, an exhortation for self-discipline while yearning for social progress (CCAR 1923)

“Vision and Hope” is the forty-second prayer found in ברכה ותהלה Blessing and Praise: A Book of Meditations and Prayers for Individual and Home Devotion (CCAR 1923), pp. 139-142.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, exhortation, footsteps of Moshiaḥ, Messianic Age, progress, teḥinot in English, Universal Peace

Contributor(s):

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

Cooperation (CCAR 1923)

“Cooperation” is the forty-seventh prayer found in ברכה ותהלה Blessing and Praise: A Book of Meditations and Prayers for Individual and Home Devotion (CCAR 1923), pp. 155-157.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty, Addenda

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., ecumenical prayers, English vernacular prayer, exhortation, interconnectedness, interdenominational cooperation, interfaith prayer, teḥinot in English, universalist prayers

Contributor(s):

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

Alike Before God (CCAR 1923)

“Alike Before God” is the forty-eighth prayer found in ברכה ותהלה Blessing and Praise: A Book of Meditations and Prayers for Individual and Home Devotion (CCAR 1923), pp. 158-160.

Categories:

Labor, Fulfillment, and Parnasah, Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty, 🌐 International Workers' Day (May 1st)

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., בצלם אלהים btselem Elohim, ecumenical prayers, English vernacular prayer, exhortation, interfaith prayer, teḥinot in English, universalist prayers

Contributor(s):

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

A Prayer for Peace and Goodwill Among the Nations of the Earth, by Rabbi Jonas Kaminkowski (1927)

A prayer for intra-national peace during the interwar period (after World War I).

Categories:

🇺🇳 United Nations, Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty, 🇺🇸 National Brotherhood Week, 🌐 United Nations Day (October 24th)

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, League of Nations, World War Ⅰ

Contributor(s):

Jonas Kaminkowski and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

[Prayer] on the Legalization of Beer, by Rabbi Norman M. Goldburg (22 February 1933)

“On the Legalization of Beer” by Rabbi Norman Michael Goldburg, was offered before the California state legislature and published in California Legislature 50th Session 1933: Prayers Offered at the Daily Sessions of the Assembly, p. 32.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies

Tags:

20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., California State Legislature, English vernacular prayer, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, Prohibition in the United States

Contributor(s):

Norman Michael Goldburg and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

[Prayer] on Abandoning the Gold Standard, by Rabbi Norman M. Goldburg (21 April 1933)

“On Abandoning the Gold Standard” by Rabbi Norman Michael Goldburg, was offered before the California state legislature on 21 April 1933, and published in California Legislature 50th Session 1933: Prayers Offered at the Daily Sessions of the Assembly, p. 74.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies

Tags:

1933 Banking Act, 20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., California State Legislature, Emergency Banking Act of 1933, English vernacular prayer, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Gold Reserve Act, Great Depression in the United States, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, United States

Contributor(s):

Norman Michael Goldburg and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

[Prayer before] the Chamber of Commerce and Civics [of the Oranges & Maplewood, New Jersey], a Cold War prayer by Rabbi Avraham Samuel Soltes (1950)

A prayer for the continuance of “the American way of life” offered during the Cold War (1947-1953) in northern New Jersey.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., American Jewry of the United States, anti-communist, capitalism, Cold War (1947–1953), New Jersey, Post–World War II economic expansion

Contributor(s):

Avraham Samuel Soltes and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

🆕 Prayer on the 5th Anniversary of the United Nations by John Golden (24 October 1950)

A prayer for the United Nations offered by John Golden, New York City Chairman of United Nations Day on the fifth anniversary of the United Nations, 24 October 1950.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty, 🌐 United Nations Day (October 24th)

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., anti-authoritarian, anti-fascist, Cold War (1947–1953), English vernacular prayer, Universal Peace

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (transcription) and John Golden

[Prayer for] Little League [Baseball], by Rabbi Avraham Samuel Soltes (ca. 1950s)

A prayer for American democracy as enshrined in Little League Baseball.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., American Jewry of the United States, athletics, baseball, English vernacular prayer, little league baseball

Contributor(s):

Avraham Samuel Soltes and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Prayer for Peace Celebration, by Lilian Helen Montagu

This undated “Prayer for Peace Celebration” by the Hon. Lily H. Montagu (1873-1963) from the archives of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, London, was published in, Lily Montagu: Sermons, Addresses, Letters, and Prayers (ed. Ellen M. Umansky, 1985), p. 356.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., British Jewry, English vernacular prayer

Contributor(s):

Lilian Helen Montagu and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Prayer at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, by Rabbi Uri Miller (28 August 1963)

Prayer delivered by Rabbi Uri Miller, President of the Synagogue Council of America, at the March on Washington, August 28, 1963

Categories:

🇺🇸︎ Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday of January), Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty, 🇺🇸 National Brotherhood Week

Tags:

20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., בצלם אלהים btselem Elohim, civil rights, democracy, demonstrations, social justice, United States

Contributor(s):

Rabbi Uri Miller and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Jack M. Rosoff on 18 February 1969

The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 18 February 1969.

Categories:

Social Justice, Peace, and Liberty, 🇺🇸 United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies

Tags:

91st Congress, 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, U.S. House of Representatives, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, תחינות teḥinot

Contributor(s):

Jack M. Rosoff and the Congressional Record of the United States of America

Stable Link: https://opensiddur.org/index.php?cat=782

Associated Image:

"Stop Separating Immigrant Familes Press Conference and Rally Chicago Illinois 6-5-18 1934" (credit: Charles Edward Miller, license: CC BY-SA) -- cropped

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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)

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