Invocation for Meeting, by Rabbi Morrison David Bial (1962)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=46651

Date: 2022-09-08

Last Updated: 2025-03-29

Categories: Congregation & Community

Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Invocation, Synagogues

Excerpt: "Meeting Invocation" by Rabbi Morrison David Bial was first published in his anthology, An Offering of Prayer (1962), p. 75, from where this prayer was transcribed. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	O Lord:   At this time of our assembly do we ask Thy blessing on ourselves and on our homes, on our children and our Temple which we have dedicated to Thee and Thy service.
	We know that the profoundest service is the dedication of ourselves to that which is noble and of deep spiritual worth.
	So our congregation, an assembly joined to work for our common good, the benefit of our children, our community and the welfare of our brothers here and beyond the seas, endeavors to move ever nearer to the realization of Judaism and the Jewish life.
	May we in our ardent labors ever keep before us the idea of the brotherhood of Israel as well as the Fatherhood of God.
	May the import of our religion ever be expressed concretely in our daily actions. So before God and man will our Temple and its members be considered a blessing.
	Amen.

---

“Meeting Invocation” by Rabbi Morrison David Bial was first published in his anthology, An Offering of Prayer (1962), p. 75, 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: Hands in the Air (Temple Sinai, Summit, New Jersey)
Caption: Hands in the Air (Temple Sinai, Summit, New Jersey)