Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=55389
open_content_license: Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedicationDate: 2024-04-14
Last Updated: 2024-06-01
Categories: Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies, United States of America
Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., 90th Congress, English vernacular prayer, Joint warfare in South Vietnam, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, U.S. Senate, תחינות teḥinot
Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 17 April 1967. . . .
Contribute a translation | Source (English) |
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Oh Lord, God of men,
God of the strong and of the weak, from this august Chamber guerdoned with our Nation’s power wherein labor the architects of fate, rearing the walls of our day’s destiny, we pray for deeds to match our dire dilemmas. |
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We pray for enactments
to stay the unraveling of our Nation’s unity, for statutes and ordinances designed to raise the lowly, the scorned seething to break the man-forged manacles binding them to despair, to lowly recompense, crumbling dwellings, deficient preparation to self-sufficient maturity, yet forced to live in their penury, face to face with fellow citizens granted in abundance all the fruits of the bounties of our most prosperous of lands. |
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From the hearts of all gathered here
there rises unto Thee, oh Lord, the earnest beseechment for peace, the prayer for the wisdom to find our way out of the toils of war; a peace brought not by the coward’s flight but through the brave man’s concord. |
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Our Heavenly Father,
may the means be found to stay the carnage where brave men slay their brothers also brave, where the enemy we fight to Thee, oh Lord, is also dear. |
מַה־נָּאווּ עַל־הֶהָרִים
רַגְלֵי מְבַשֵּׂר מַשְׁמִיעַ שָׁלוֹם (ישעיה נב:ז) |
Ma navu al he-harim
raglei m’vaseir mashmiya shalom, How beautiful upon the hilltops are the feet of the messenger of the good tiding that announce Thy most precious gift of peace.—(Isaiah 52:7). |
הֱוֵי מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן אוֹהֵב שָׁלוֹם… אוֹהֵב אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת וּמְקָרְבָן לַתּוֹרָה (משנה אבות א:יב) |
Oh God,
may these legislators of our land follow the instructions of Hillel the Sage: Hevei mi-talmidov shel Aharon. Ohev shalom, ohev et ha-briyot… u-m’ḳorvan la-Torah. Be of the disciples of Aaron, lovers of peace…[1] This quotation omits rodef shalom (“pursue peace”). lovers of all men[2] ha-briyot literally translates to “all creatures.” and may be ye ever nigh unto God’s law—(Cf. Mishnah Avot 1:12). |
אָמֵן
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Amen.
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This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the fourth month of the first session of the 90th US Congress in the Senate, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 113, part 8 (17 April 1967), page 9786.
Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)
Co-authors:
Featured Image:
Title: Flag_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg
Caption: Flag of the United States Senate