Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Solomon Schiff on 9 September 2004
Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=28178
open_content_license: Public Domain (17 U.S. Code §105 - Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works) Date: 2019-11-19
Last Updated: 2025-03-29
Categories: 🇺🇸 United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies
Tags: 108th Congress, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, U.S. Senate, תחינות teḥinot
Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 9 September 2004. . . .
Content:
Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Solomon Schiff of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Miami, Florida
Sponsor:
Date of Prayer: 2004-09-09
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Heavenly Creator,
bestow Thy blessings
upon those assembled here
who have accepted the sacred responsibility to legislate
within these hallowed halls of the United States Senate
to preserve
and to foster
the noble ideals
of our sanctified democracy.
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Grant that these deliberations
will be ruled by wisdom,
purpose,
and dedication.
Thou, O Lord,
have taught us through the words of the prophet Malachai:
“Have we not all one Father?
Hath not one G-d created us all?
Why do we deal treacherously,
every man against his brother?”
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Grant us the resolve
to serve as Thy partners
to eradicate anger,
hunger,
and bigotry
from our human family.
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Imbue us with commitment
to sow the seeds
that will turn selfishness into civility,
hatred into harmony,
loathing into love,
and bigotry into blessing.
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Help us always
to work for the lost,
the least,
the last,
and the lonely.
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May we remain committed
to work with renewed energy
to elevate the status
and dignity
of all of Thy children
so that all
can enjoy the blessings
and benefits
of our bountiful society.
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Amen.
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Source(s)
108th Congress, 2nd Session. Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 150, No. 106 — Daily Edition (September 9, 2004)
Click to access CREC-2004-09-09-pt1-PgS8977-2.pdf
Contributor: the Congressional Record of the United States of America
Co-authors:
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Name: the Congressional Record of the United States of America
Bio: The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress, published by the United States Government Printing Office and issued when Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks. At the end of a session of Congress, the daily editions are compiled in bound volumes constituting the permanent edition. Statutory authorization for the Congressional Record is found in Chapter 9 of Title 44 of the United States Code. (wikipedia)
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Record
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/united-states-congressional-record
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Name: Solomon Schiff
Bio: Rabbi Solomon Schiff has been the Director of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation's Community Chaplaincy Service since 1966 and the Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami since 1964; he continues to serve as a Rabbi Emeritus and consultant for both. Ordained by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein of the Mesifta Tifereth Jerusalem Rabbinical Seminary in New York, Rabbi Schiff received a B.A. in Political Science at Brooklyn College, an M.A. in Counseling at the University of Miami, and a Doctorate of Pastoral Counseling at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois.
Website: https://rabbis.org/meet-our-chaverim/rabbi-solomon-schiff/
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/solomon-schiff
Featured Image:
Title: Flag_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg
Caption: Flag of the United States Senate