May we recognize the light
of the Divine Source
in the varied countenances
of our fellow human beings.
May we dignify the otherness of others
while cultivating a deep sense of connection
through the humanity that we all share.
O God of creation and of deliverance,
grant peace, goodness, and blessing,
grace, loving kindness, and compassion
to us and all your people.
Bless us with the light of your countenance
for by this light
you have given us living teachings
and love of kindness, righteousness, blessing,
compassion, life, and peace.
May you see fit to bless us always,
in every hour,
with your peace.
And to this we say: Amen
This is the invocation offered before the House of Representatives of the US State of Georgia, in their 157th session, day 11, 2 February 2023 (Chaplain of the Day). The prayer was offered in conclusion to a short sermon. Rabbi Dr. Miriam Udel was introduced by Rep. Esther Panitch. I have transcribed the text of this prayer from the video recording made public by the Georgia State House of Representatives, via their Youtube channel. Many thanks to Dr. Rachel Gross for highlighting this event. –Aharon Varady
Source(s)
Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
Co-authors:
Name: Miriam Udel Bio: Miriam Udel is Judith London Evans Director of the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies and associate professor of Yiddish language, literature, and culture at Emory University, where she studies the Jewish encounter with modernity. She holds an AB in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and a PhD in Comparative Literature, both from Harvard University. Udel was ordained in 2019 as part of the first cohort of the Executive Ordination Track at Yeshivat Maharat, a program designed to bring qualified mid-career women into the Orthodox rabbinate. In the Jewish community, she enjoys teaching about narrative midrash and medieval biblical interpretation as well as Yiddish culture. With grace and imagination, she stages meaningful textual encounters between classical and modern Jewish literary sources. She uses “darshanit” (interpreter) as her rabbinic title, both as a descriptor of her contribution and in recognition of such historical figures as Rivka bas Me’ir Tiktiner, the first woman known to have published a book in Yiddish, identified as harabanit vehadarshanit. Website:https://miriamudel.com Profile Link:https://opensiddur.org/profile/miriam-udel
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 naqeniשְׁגִיאוֹת 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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