[Prayer] for understanding, by Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques (1916)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=48785

Date: 2023-02-06

Last Updated: 2024-12-17

Categories: Tefillin

Tags: 20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., British Jewry, dveykut, English vernacular prayer, Liberal Movement for Progressive Judaism in Britain, love, teḥinot in English

Excerpt: Basil L.Q. Henriques's prayer "For Understanding" was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George's Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George's Settlement Synagogue (1929), "Special Prayers" section, pages 94-95. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	For understanding.
	Lord of the Universe, I know not what Thou art, and yet I feel Thy presence to be before me at all times.
	Thou hast no eyes, and yet I know no act nor thought of mine is hidden from Thy sight;
	Thou hast no hands, and yet when I am faint and weak, I feel Thy love upholding me;
	Thou hast no ears, and yet when I call unto Thee, I know that Thou art listening;
	Thou hast no voice, and yet when I pray unto Thee I hear Thy answer in my heart;
	Thou hast no form, and yet, O King I see thee ever before me.
	All that is beautiful and pure art Thou, all that is tender and merciful, all that is righteous and good. For Thou art love.
	O Father in Heaven, help me to understand Thee better and open my heart to Thy holiness. Amen.

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Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Understanding” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 94-95.

Source(s)

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques
  Bio: Sir Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques CBE JP (17 October 1890 – 2 December 1961) was a British philanthropist of Portuguese Jewish descent, concentrating his work in the East End of London during the first half of the 20th century.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_Henriques
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/basil-lucas-quixano-henriques
• 
  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: for understanding (Basil L.Q. Henriques 1929) – cropped
Caption: for understanding (Basil L.Q. Henriques 1929) - cropped