Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Kurt L. Metzger on 5 June 1968

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Date: 2022-09-12

Last Updated: 2025-03-29

Categories: Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies

Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., assassination, Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, English vernacular prayer, Prayers after an attempted assassination, Prayers for leaders, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, Robert F. Kennedy, U.S. House of Representatives

Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 5 June 1968. . . .

Content:

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Kurt L. Metzger, Temple B’nai Israel, Olean, New York
Date of Prayer: 5 June 1968

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	It hath been shown thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord doth require of thee; to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. (Micah 6:8)
	Our God, creator and ruler of all men, we pray Thee this day for our Nation that with Thy gracious help and our concerted efforts all hatred and malice, all indifference to the suffering of others, all narrow exclusiveness and selfish greed may speedily cease in our land.
	Grant that the spirit of justice and love for our fellowmen, cooperation in service, and self-sacrifice for the welfare of all may ever increase among our people. In this hour of shock over the wounding of Senator Robert F. Kennedy we beseech Thee to bestow upon him complete recovery from his injuries and to restore him to our country and to his family in renewed health and vigor.
	Cause, O God, the evils of violence to cease from the earth and the spirit of brotherhood and understanding to enter the minds and hearts of all men.
	We also pray for ourselves that Thy hand forge us into tools for the service of our country. Help us to be among those who are willing to sweep away oppression and wrong, to uplift the weak and to give to every man, regardless of color or creed, the opportunity of a full life to be lived for Thy glory and for the service of mankind. Amen.

Source(s)

90th Congress, 2nd Session. Issue: vol. 114, part 12, p. 16043 — Daily Edition (June 5, 1968)

Congressional Record, 90th Congress, 2nd Session, vol. 114, part 12, p. 16043 (5 June 1968)

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

Name: Kurt L. Metzger
Bio: Rabbi Kurt L. Metzger (1909-1992) born in Nuremberg, was from 1935-1938 the district Rabbi of Landau. He was arrested on 10 November 1938 in Breslau, where he attended the Jewish Theological Seminary, and incarcerated in the Buchenwald concentration camp for several months. After his release, he served as the rabbi of Nuremberg until his immigration to the United States in 1940. From 1942-1962 he was the rabbi of Temple Beth El in Glen Falls, New York. He returned to Germany many times, and in 1977 was named Honorary Rabbi of his native Nuremberg. He is buried in his wife's family plot at the cemetery in Landau.
Website:
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/kurt-l-metzger

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

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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