Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Chaplain Jonathan A. Panitz on 16 October 1991

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=52090

Date: 2023-07-22

Last Updated: 2025-02-18

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

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

Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 16 October 1991. . . .

Content:

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Chaplain Jonathan A. Panitz, Office of the Chief of Chaplains, U.S. Navy, Washington, DC
Date of Prayer: 16 October 1991
Sponsor: Rep. Robert A. Roe (D-NJ)

Mr. ROE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to have Lt. Comdr. Jonathan A. Panitz, a former constituent, as the guest chaplain for today. Chaplain Panitz, who is currently the head of the policy branch in the Office of the Chief of Chaplains at the Pentagon, is the son of a dear friend, the late Rabbi David H. Panitz.

Chaplain Panitz received his B.S. degree from New York University in 1968 and his rabbinic ordination in 1975 from the Leo Baeck College of London, England. He also received a masters degree in biomedical ethics and moral theology from Catholic University in 1988, and a masters degree in guidance and counseling from Providence College in 1991. He is married and has three children.

Chaplain Panitz has served congregations in Salisbury, MD, and Fall River, MA. As a Navy chaplain, he has held positions in Yokosuka, Japan; Norfolk, VA; and Newport, RI. He is a member of the Rabbinical Assembly, the American Mensa Society, the American Association of Counseling Therapist—specialty in hypnotherapy, and the Jewish War Veterans. As I mentioned above, he is currently the head of the policy branch of the Office of the Chief of Chaplains. I am very pleased to have him here today, Mr. Speaker.

---

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	O great and immutable Lord, we ask that Your beneficent presence fill these Chambers. Cause the essence of wisdom, knowledge, and discernment to fill the hearts and minds of our Nation’s chosen representatives.
	Enable them to discharge their awesome responsibilities with courage and foresight.
	Bless them with equal measures of justice and mercy. May their sense of wit be tempered by true compassion. May their desire for effective change be met with patience and forbearance.
	Bless them, O Lord, as they steer this Nation’s democratic course through sometimes troubled and turbulent waters. When ill winds blow, create for them a haven of safety and security. Enfold them securely in the comforting web of Your grace. Bring to fruition all their noble and worthy plans.
	Allow them, O Lord, to reflect honor and glory upon our great democracy so that all who know us will call us truly blessed. Amen.

---

Source(s)

102nd Congress, 1st Session. C-SPAN.
Congressional Record, Vol. 137, Part 18 — Bound Edition, p. 26521.

Congressional Record v. 137, part 18 – 16 October 1991. p. 26521

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Jonathan A. Panitz
  Bio: Jonathan Avram Panitz is a Conservative Jewish rabbi, patient chaplain, and retired Commander Chaplain for the U.S. Navy. He received his ordination from Leo Baeck College in 1975 after which he served congregations in Salisbury, Maryland and Fall River, Massachusetts. In 1980, he became a chaplain for the U.S. Navy. From 1995-1998, he served as the Jewish chaplain for the U.S. Naval Academy.
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/jonathan-panitz
• 
  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

Featured Image:

Title: Flag_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.svg
Caption: Flag of the United States House of Representatives