Invocation for United Jewish Appeal, by Rabbi Morrison David Bial (1962)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=46637

Date: 2022-09-08

Last Updated: 2025-04-11

Categories: Congregation & Community

Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Invocation, New Jersey, UJA-Jewish Federation, צדקה tsedaqah

Excerpt: "Invocation for United Jewish Appeal" by Rabbi Morrison David Bial was first published in his anthology, An Offering of Prayer (1962), p. 70, from where this prayer was transcribed. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	We are gathered here, O Lord, deeply conscious of Thy blessings upon us until this day. We pray that we may be worthy of them, now and in the future.
	We cannot say why we have been chosen to lead lives of hope and abundance, while others struggle in poverty in dark lands; why we flourish in liberty, while others exist in fear and trembling. We do know that it is our obligation to our brothers and to our belief in Thy will to goodness that we do what we can for them.
	Teach us, O Lord, fully to share our sympathies and our material goods with our fellow Jews who are in need and in danger. Help us to understand that as we have been amply blessed, we must help bring blessings to those who need our assistance.
	Then we will demonstrate within our hearts and in Thy world the love of Thee and Thy children which is the source of our religious being and the measure of our spiritual stature.
	Amen.

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“Invocation for United Jewish Appeal” by Rabbi Morrison David Bial was first published in his anthology, An Offering of Prayer (1962), p. 70, from where this prayer was transcribed.

Source(s)

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Morrison David Bial
  Bio: Born in New York in 1917, Morrison David Bial studied at Princeton Theological Seminary, served as a chaplain at Mitchell Field during World War II, and was ordained from the Jewish Institute of Religion in 1945. Rabbi Bial spoke from pulpits in the United States as well as in Dublin, Glasgow, and London. He led a number of tours to Israel, and published thirteen books, including The Rabbi’s Bible: Torah and The Rabbi’s Bible: Prophets (began in 1966, co-authored with Solomon Simon), Liberal Judaism at Home: the Practices of Modern Reform Judaism (1971), and Your Jewish Child (1978). Rabbi Bial spent over thirty years serving Temple Sinai in Summit, New Jersey, from 1953 until he became Rabbi Emeritus in 1985. From 1985–1995, Rabbi Bial joined Temple Beth Shalom in Ocala, Florida, revitalizing its interfaith movement, and served as Rabbi Emeritus until his death in 2004.
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/morrison-david-bial
• 
  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

Featured Image:

Title: mens-uja-055
Caption: Men's UJA meeting in Paterson circa late 40's early 50's-- L to R top row: seated Al Grylack, standing Gary Berman, Harvey Horowitz, ? Nathan Harelick, Isadore Grylack, ? Mickey Dresner, ? Sam Hoffman, ? ? Hy Levine, ? Sam Zakim. Seated: L to R: Jake Moscow, Mendel Levine, Martin Weiner, Nat Kluger, Al Levine, Charles Bromberg, Abe Berliner