[Children's] Prayer for a Youth Service during World War Ⅱ, by Lilian Helen Montagu (11 April 1942)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=46396

Date: 2022-08-26

Last Updated: 2025-04-11

Categories: Sefirat ha-Omer, 🇺🇸 National Brotherhood Week

Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., British Jewry, children's prayers, English vernacular prayer, World War Ⅱ

Excerpt: This "Special Prayer" for a Youth Service (11 April 1942) 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. 351. April 11th that year would have corresponded to the 24th of Nissan, i.e., a day following Passover 5702. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Almighty Father,   In these times of difficulty and sadness, we, thy children, would speak our hearts to Thee. We long for the time of peace, based on sincere foundations of justice and of truth. We believe in the possibilities of brotherhood of people putting the interest of the general number before their own personal desires. Since they can attain this condition of thoughtfulness through Judaism, we humbly ask Thee to make thyself more fully realised in our midst. Strengthen our purpose to combat misery, ignorance and sin, and thus show forth our devotion to Thee. In spite of our weaknesses, let us be of use working with Thee in the creation of righteousness and the spread of love.
	Renew our hope, quicken our faith, and let us walk with steadfastness in the way of life. Amen.

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This “Special Prayer” for a Youth Service (11 April 1942) 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. 351. April 11th that year would have corresponded to the 24th of Nissan, i.e., a day following Passover 5702.

Source(s)

Lily Montagu, sermons, addresses, letters, and prayers – Religious Leader – p. 351

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Lilian Helen Montagu
  Bio: The Hon. Lilian Helen "Lily" Montagu, CBE (22 December 1873 – 22 January 1963) was the first woman to play a major role in Progressive Judaism. Until the age of 15, she was educated at Doreck College, and privately educated thereafter. In 1893 she founded with Emily Marion Harris the West Central Jewish Girls Club (which subsequently merged into the Jewish Girls' Brigade). She was active in social improvement, particularly in respect to unemployment, sweat shops and bad housing. In 1901 and 1902, Montagu laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Jewish Religious Union in London. In February 1902 she arranged the first meeting of the Jewish Religious Union for the Advancement of Liberal Judaism at her sister Henrietta Franklin's house. The Union set up the first synagogue in Liberal Judaism in the UK and helped found the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Montagu was a founding member with her sister of the Jewish League for Woman Suffrage. She sat on the executive committee and led the meetings in prayer. Following the retirement of Leo Baeck, Montagu served for a brief stint (1955–1959) in her 80s as president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, before handing the reins over to Solomon Freehof.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Montagu
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/lilian-helen-montagu
• 
  Name: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
  Bio: Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)
  Website: https://aharon.varady.net
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/aharon-varady-transcription

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Title: special prayer (Lily Montagu 1942) – cropped
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