Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Martin Jay Applebaum on 20 February 1992

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Date: 2023-07-24

Last Updated: 2025-01-09

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. Senate, תחינות teḥinot

Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 20 February 1992. . . .

Content:
Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Martin Jay Applebaum, Fort Lewis, Washington
Date of Prayer: 20 February 1992
Contribute a translation Source (English)
In challenging times
we prayerfully turn to our Creator
for divine guidance.
It is in these imposing environs
of momentous deliberation
wherein the conscience of mankind abides
that we must seek heavenly inspiration
as we humbly bow our heads
in search of truth and justice,
wisdom, insight,
loving kindness, and mercy.
We are painfully aware, O Heavenly Father,
of the treacherous paths
upon which evil rides with wild abandon,
where fanaticism is camouflaged,
as righteous zealotry.
Teach us, O God,
to discern righteousness
and give us the wherewithal to combat evil
with fortitude and determination
so that Your divine teaching shall abide with us
in order to establish Thy kingdom on Earth.
Having recently celebrated
the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights,
our beloved country’s declaration of principle,
we pray our resolve be strengthened
so that the immortal words of the prophet
will certainly hold true:
“And it shall come to pass in the end of days,
that the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established at the top of the mountains
and shall be exalted above the hills;
and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isaiah 2:2)
“And many people shall come and say
let us go to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob
and He will teach us of His ways,
and we will walk in His paths.” (Isaiah 2:3 part)
“And He shall judge between the nations,
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)
In Your holy name we pray.
Amen.

Source(s)

102nd Congress, 2nd Session. C-SPAN.
Congressional Record, Vol. 138, Part 2 — Bound Edition, p. 2652.

Congressional Record v. 138, part 2 – 20 February. p. 2652

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

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