[Children's] Prayer for Shabbat Teshuvah, by Lilian Helen Montagu (27 September 1941)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=46401

Date: 2022-08-26

Last Updated: 2025-02-18

Categories: Yom Kippur

Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., British Jewry, children's prayers, English vernacular prayer, זמן תשובה Zman teshuvah, שבת תשובה Shabbat Teshuvah

Excerpt: This "Prayer for Service" on Shabbat Teshuvah (27 September 1941) 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), pp. 350-351. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Almighty Father,   On this Sabbath of Repentance, we, thy children, come unto Thee, sure of Thy nearness, and seeking to renew our hope. We recall the mistakes and disappointments and sorrows of the year that is past, and also its challenge to us to renew our faith and serve Thee with our whole hearts and souls.
	Oh God, help us to do better and to be better. Teach us to serve, so that we may bring nearer the day when oppression will be overthrown, and the life of the world will be founded on justice and good will.
	We think today especially of the children in our midst. Let them enjoy in peace the fulness of life, the realisation of joy, and the revelation of beauty.
	We think of the sufferers of all nations and pray that through recognising the reality of Thy presence, we shall all be quickly let out of darkness to light, from doubt to faith, from mistrust to lasting confidence.
	Amen.

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This children’s “Prayer for Service” on Shabbat Teshuvah (27 September 1941) 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), pp. 350-351.

Source(s)

Lily Montagu, sermons, addresses, letters, and prayers – Religious Leader – p. 350

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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