Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein on 20 March 1991

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Date: 2023-07-19

Last Updated: 2024-06-01

Categories: Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies, United States of America

Tags: 102nd Congress, 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, U.S. Senate, תחינות teḥinot

Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 20 March 1991. . . .


Content:
Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, president, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Chicago, Illinois
Date of Prayer: 20 March 1991

Contribute a translation Source (English)
Our Father in Heaven,
we come before You this day
and every day
in awe,
in gratitude,
in praise,
in humility,
and in prayer.
This, indeed, is the day the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O Lord,
instill in our hearts a love for you
and for all your creation.
May we be ever mindful
that it is from you that we derive
our strength,
our wisdom,
our hope,
and our conviction.
May we be inspired by Your Word
and reminded of Micah’s admonition
to act justly,
love mercy,
and walk humbly with the Lord our God.[1] Micah 6:8. 
May we never avert our eyes
from the pain and suffering of others.
O Lord,
on this and every day,
we seek Your guidance and direction.
Watch over our leaders —
indeed, the men and women in this room.
Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem
as Psalms 122:6 urges us to do,
and indeed for peace among all people of all nations.
So that, instead of finding swords and weapons
we will find only plowshares and pruning forks.
We, the people, look to God and you
to bring that day of peace about.
In the words of the age-old Jewish prayer,
“He who brings peace in the Heavens
may He bring peace to us
and all the world.”[2] From the closing prayer, “Oseh shalom bimromav.” 
God bless you
and be with you.
Amen.

Source(s)

102nd Congress, 1st Session. C-SPAN.
Congressional Record, Vol. 137, Part 5 — Bound Edition, p. 6756.

Congressional Record v. 137, part 5 – 20 March 1991. p. 6756

 

Notes

Notes
1 Micah 6:8.
2 From the closing prayer, “Oseh shalom bimromav.”

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)

Co-authors:

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