tagged: United States General Election 2024 • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ

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

David Abernethy — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:13:21 +0000

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	Pray for the peace of America.
	May those who love her be tranquil, and the hands of violence stilled within her.
	May there be peace in Your political campaigns and in the pursuit of Your citizens’ causes, Tranquility in Your public discourse, in every corner of the land.
	For the sake of my friends and my kin, and for the sake of every American, those with whom I agree, and those whom I oppose, I pray for peace.
	For the sake of the house of Adonai our God, and for the sake of our country, blessed by Adonai with the gifts of freedom and self-government, I seek the welfare of all.

Based on Psalms 122:6-9, this prayer for civility and domestic peace in the United States of America was offered in the day following the assassination attempt of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Invocation by Rabbi Sharon Brous at the Democratic National Convention (2024)

Sharon Brous — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 05:37:02 +0000

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	We gather this week for holy work: together, we are crafting a redemption story for America.
	As a rabbi, I know something about redemption stories. My faith is sustained by the story of a people, beleaguered and bereft, traversing the desert on a journey from degradation to dignity, darkness to light.
	Holy One, help us write America’s redemption story— a story of ceaseless striving toward a true multiracial democracy, rooted in equal justice, where every person is an image of God— unique, mighty, and worthy of love.
	In this story, politics is not a vehicle for repression, bigotry, or personal profit, but instead a call to solidarity and service.
	This story counters extremism with capaciousness and compassion. It is rooted in the knowledge that our most sacred responsibility is to honor one another’s humanity.
	This story rejects the inevitability of violence and war, affirming that every one of us— Muslim, Jew, Christian, Black, white, Latino, AAPI,^[1] Asian American and Pacific Islanders queer and straight, Israeli and Palestinian — deserves to live in dignity and peace.
	Some say this story is impossible, but the God of redemption specializes in the impossible— and so must we.
	May we be guided always by hope, joy, and a fierce moral imagination. Amen.

This is the invocation offered by Rabbi Sharon Brous of IKAR (Los Angeles, California) on the second night of the Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, 20 August 2024. Her invocation was offered together with that of Imam Dr. Talib M. Shareef of The Nation’s Mosque (Washington, DC).

Source

Notes

Notes
1	Asian American and Pacific Islanders

A Prayer for Our Country Before Election Day, by David Abernethy (2024)

David Abernethy — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 16:56:20 +0000

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	Our God and God of our ancestors, with hope and humility we approach Election Day, the day on which We the People^[1] The incipit to the Preamble to the United States Constitution (1787). will choose the individuals who will govern our nation, our states, and our communities.
	You have abundantly blessed the United States of America with freedom, security, prosperity, and the right to democratic self-government. You made it possible for the founders of our country to fulfill the command of Your Torah, to “proclaim liberty throughout the land, and unto all the inhabitants thereof.” (Leviticus 25:10)
	Daily we pray to You to restore our leaders as in former times. On this Election Day, help us to remember that in America we are responsible for choosing our own leaders, and that the survival of our democracy, and the well-being of generations of Americans to come, depend upon the care we take in those choices.
	Daily we pray to You for knowledge, discernment and wisdom. On this Election Day grant us those blessings in full, so that we may consider our choices with knowledge and vote with discernment and wisdom, with the best interests of our country and our communities in mind.
	Daily we pray to You to subdue the arrogant in our time. On Election Day, and every day, help us to subdue the arrogance within ourselves. Open our hearts and minds to consider the opinions of our fellow citizens, as we call upon them to consider ours.
	Strengthen our will to fulfill our duties to our country and to one another. To exercise our precious right to vote. And to do all we can to ensure that every legal vote is counted, regardless of the candidate or party for whom it is cast.
	May it be Your will that our decisions this Election Day will preserve this country as a wellspring of liberty and a beacon of tolerance and democracy for the entire world.
	And let us say Amen.

Notes

Notes
1	The incipit to the Preamble to the United States Constitution (1787).

Prayer for Voting, by Rachie Lewis (Keshet 2024)

Rachie Lewis — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:19:09 +0000

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	As you prepare to fill out your ballot, take three deep breaths. Then recite the following prayer:
	May it be Your will, God of our ancestors, Divine spirit who makes change and inspires change, that You accompany us as we carry out our civic duty to vote, to concern ourselves with the fate of our community, for we are all responsible for one another.^[1] Cf. Shevuot 39a.22
	May it be Your will that all endowed with the right to vote recognize their power, exercise their power; that You bless the work of our hands,^[2] Cf. Psalms 90:17 striving to build a world that honors Your creations, every one made B’tselem Elohim — in Your image;^[3] Pirkei Avot 3:14 (a teaching in the name of Rebbi Aqiva) after Genesis 9:6 that You grant us the wisdom to choose holiness, to choose love, to choose life.^[4] Deuteronomy 30:19
	Blessed are You God, who hears our prayer, who spreads over us a sukkah, a voting booth, of peace.

This Prayer for Voting was written by Rachie Lewis, senior writer of קשת Keshet: For LGBTQ Equality in Jewish Life, and first published at Keshet’s website on 23 September 2024.

Source(s)

Prayer for Voting (Rachie Lewis for Keshet, 2024)

Notes

Notes
1	Cf. Shevuot 39a.22
2	Cf. Psalms 90:17
3	Pirkei Avot 3:14 (a teaching in the name of Rebbi Aqiva) after Genesis 9:6
4	Deuteronomy 30:19

בִּשְּׁבִיל דֵמוֹקרָטִיָה וְצֶדֶק | For democracy and justice: additions to the Amidah to add from now through US election day (and afterward), by Rabbi David Seidenberg (neohasid)

David Seidenberg — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 19:54:29 +0000

Source (Hebrew)	Source (English)
	Addition to the 12th blessing of the Amidah — The blessing for for justice and compassion to prevail:
הָשִֽׁיבָה שׁוֹפְטֵֽינוּ כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה וְיוֹעֲצֵֽינוּ כְּבַתְּחִלָּה שֶׁיִהְיוּ מְלֵאִים צֶדֶק וְרַחֲמִים וְהָסֵר מִמֶּֽנּוּ יָגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה וּמְלוֹךְ עָלֵֽינוּ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה לְבַדְּ֒ךָ בְּחֶֽסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים וְצַדְּ֒קֵֽנוּ בַּמִשְׁפָּט	Restore our judges, like they were at first, and our leaders who advise like they were at the beginning, to be full of righteousness and compassion, and remove from us anguish and sorrow, and You, YHVH, will rule over us alone in love and compassion, and may we be made righteous through doing justice.
וְתֵּן לְכָל אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם הָכֹּחַ וְהַרָצוֹן לִרְדֹף צֶדֶק וּלְבַקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם כְּאַגֻדָה אַחַת לֲעַקֹר גִזְעָנוּת וְחָמָס וּלְהַצְמִיחַ רְפוּאָה וְחַיִים טוֹבִים וְשָׁלוֹם בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ מֶֽלֶךְ אוֹהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט	Give to all the peoples of the world the strength and will to pursue justice and to seek peace as one united front, to uproot racism and violence (ḥamas) and to make healing and good living and peace flourish. Blessed be You YHVH, the ruler who loves righteousness/charity and justice.
	Addition to the 13th blessing of the Amidah — The blessing for the arrogant to be overthrown and wickedness ended:
וְלַמַּלְשִׁינִים \| וְלַמַּשְׁחִיתִים וְלַמְּחַבְּלִים אַל תְּהִי תִקְוָה וְכָל הָרִשְׁעָה כְּרֶֽגַע תֹּאבֵד וְכָל אֹיְבֶֽיךָ וְכָל הַזֵּדִים מְהֵרָה יִכָּרֵֽתוּ	And for those who inform \| and for those who destroy and terrorize, may there be no hope, and may wickedness be eradicated as if in an instant. May Your enemies and the arrogant be quickly cut off.
תְעַקֵּר טִירוּנִיָא וָעָרִיצוּת וּתְשַׁבֵּר רַמַאִים וּתְמַגֵּר עֹשְׁקֵי נִדְכָּאִים תַעֲבִיר מֶמְשֶׁלֶת זָדוֹן מִן הָאָרֶץ וּתְּסַכֵּל פּוֹגְעִים בְּדֵמוֹקרָטִיָה וְתָּפֵר תַחְבּוּלוֹתם תְכַלֵּם וְתַשְׁפִּילֵם וְתַכְנִיעֵם בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ שׁוֹבֵר אוֹיְבִים וּמַכְנִֽיעַ זֵדִים	May You tear out tyranny and despotism, ruin those who cheat and deceive, upend and overthrow those who oppress the vulnerable. Make the reign of the arrogant disappear from the land, and pulverize the plans of those who attack democracy and make them foolish. Obstruct them, humble them, and bring on their downfall, soon, in our days. Blessed be You YHVH who breaks enemies and humbles the arrogant.

These additions to the Amidah build on earlier prayers by Rabbi Seidenberg for US election day. Earlier iterations were offered as a plea that elected officials acknowledge and effectively respond to environmental crises. From 2016, Rabbi Seidenberg’s adaptations to his prayer for voting acknowledge the threat to democracy and justice expressed in the positions, policies, and plans of popular leaders and their appointed Supreme Court justices in the United States.

Source(s)

For democracy and justice – Amidah additions (David Seidenberg 2024)

Prayer for Sukkot 5785, by Rabbi David Seidenberg

David Seidenberg — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 16:48:58 +0000

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	May we enter the Sukkah this year for the sake of peace;
	may we find protection and peace under the fragile leaves of the skhakh;
	may we savor the fruits and the joy of the holiday in the name of peace for all peoples;
	may we imagine a world that is safe enough for everyone to recline in sukkot, dwellings open to the sky;
	may there be stars for us and all humanity, not rocket flares;
	may there be sukkot, not bomb shelters;
	may we leave the Sukkah ready to create and support peace, justice, and democracy in the world.

This prayer by Rabbi Seidenberg was shared via his English newsletter and social media in the days preceding Sukkot 2024.

הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא ליום הבחירות | Hosha-na for Election Day, by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 21:19:56 +0000

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא – אַחֲוָה וְאֵמוּן בְּאַדְמָתֵֽנוּ – הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא – בְּרָכָה וּבִטָּחוֹן בִּבְחִירָתֵֽנוּ – הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא – גְּבוּרָה וּגְמִילַת חֶֽסֶד בִּגְדוֹלֵֽנוּ – הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — דִּין וְדֶֽרֶךְ אֶֽרֶץ בְּדַיָּנֵֽינוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא	Hoshana — brotherhood and faith in our land — hoshana Hoshana — blessing and trust in our election — hoshana Hoshana — courage and merciful acts in our great ones — hoshana Hoshana — judgment and good sense in our judges — hoshana
הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — הוֹד וְהָדָר בְּהֵיכְלוֹתֵֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — וַדָּאוּת וּוֶֽתֶק בִּוְעָדֵֽינוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — זְכוּת וּזְרִיזוּת בִּזְקֵנֵֽינוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — חֵן וָחֶֽסֶד בְּחַבְלֵֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא	Hoshana — splendor and beauty in our palaces — hoshana Hoshana — certainty and senority in our committees — hoshana Hoshana — merit and agility in our elders — hoshana Hoshana — grace and kindness in our borders — hoshana
הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — טוּב טַֽעַם בְּטִעוּנֵֽינוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — יֹֽשֶׁר וִידִידוּת בִּיסוֹדוֹתֵֽינוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — כָּבוֹד וְכִשָּׁרוֹן בְּכִנְסוֹתֵֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — לִמּוּד וָלֶֽקַח בְּלִשְׁכוֹתֵֽינוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא	Hoshana — good sense in our legal cases — hoshana Hoshana — integrity and friendship in our foundations — hoshana Hoshana — honor and aptitude in our assemblies — hoshana Hoshana — learning and receiving in our cabinets — hoshana
הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — מִדּוֹת מֵלִיץ בְּמֶמְשַׁלְתֵּֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — נְדִיבוּת וּנְצִיגוּת בְּנִהוּלֵֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — סִיּֽוּעַ וְסַבְלָנוּת בְּסַמְכֻיּוֹתֵֽינוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — עֲנָוָה וָעֹֽצֶם בְּעֵדוֹתֵֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא	Hoshana — an interceder’s attributes in our government — hoshana Hoshana — generosity and representation in our management — hoshana Hoshana — aid and patience in our authorities — hoshana Hoshana — humility and strength in our congregations — hoshana
הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — פְּאֵר וּפְדוּת בִּפְקִידֵֽינוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — צְדָקָה וּצְנִיעוּת בְּצִבּוּרֵֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — קִדְמָה וְקִיּוּם בִּקְהִלּוֹתֵֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — רְוָיָה וְרַחֲמִים בְּרָשׁוּתֵֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא	Hoshana — glory and liberation in our officials — hoshana Hoshana — righteousness and modesty in our public — hoshana Hoshana — progress and fulfillment in our communities — hoshana Hoshana — satiation and compassion in our administrations — hoshana
הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — שָׁלוֹם וְשַׁלְוָה בְּשִׁלְטוֹנֵֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא — תְּקוּמָה וְתוֹחֶֽלֶת תִּקְוָה בִּתְקוּפָתֵֽנוּ — הוֹשַֽׁעְנָא	Hoshana — peace and tranquility in our regime — hoshana Hoshana — revival and a chance of hope in our era — hoshana

This hosha-na for election day was offered by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer, and first published through his Facebook page on 5 November 2024.

Prayer for Election Day, by Rabbi Lior Bar-Ami

Lior Bar-Ami — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 04:45:20 +0000

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	Source of Life and Justice, on this day of decision and choice, we lift our hearts in hope and humility.
	Help us remember the values that bind people together: the dignity of each soul, the responsibility we share for one another, and the dreams held for a future that is just, safe, and filled with compassion. As the prophet Micah taught, may we “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly” (Micah 6:8) with You and with each other.
	May this day be a reflection of the highest values, a testament to courage and unity.
	May each vote cast be a voice for those who long to be heard, a call for kindness and fairness that elevate the many over the few, and a choice for leaders who will uplift the vulnerable, honor the Earth, and listen to the whispers of wisdom in their own hearts.
	As it is written in the Psalms, “May there be peace within your walls, and security within your towers” (Psalm 122:7).
	We pray that the outcomes of this election bring healing to the nation, resilience to its spirit, and leadership that strives to honor all communities in their diversity and needs.
	May people be strengthened to rebuild with compassion, to meet disagreement with respect, and to carry forward the work of building a place where freedom, peace, and justice flow like waters.
	May today’s decisions and tomorrow’s leaders be blessed with vision, humility, and the courage to serve the common good. And may the path forward be one of unity, wisdom, and hope.

Rabbi Lior Bar-Ami shared this prayer for US Election Day via their Facebook page on 5 November 2024.