Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Hyman B. Faskowitz on 19 April 1966
Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=55461
open_content_license: Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication Date: 2024-04-18
Last Updated: 2025-02-18
Categories: 🇺🇸 United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies
Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., 89th Congress, 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 19 April 1966. . . .
Content:
Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Hyman B. Faskowitz, Congregation Tifereth Israel, Brooklyn, New York
Sponsor: n/a
Date of Prayer: 19 April 1966
Contribute a translation |
Source (English) |
אבינו שבשמים
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Avinu shebaShomayim · Heavenly Father,
standing here in the home of our Federal Legislature,
the House of Representatives of the United States of America,
we proclaim Thy sovereignty over all creation
and Thy providential guidance
of the destinies of nations
as well as individual human beings.
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We pray Thee, Oh Merciful Father,
to confer upon these dedicated public servants
the strength that they require
to face the problems that confront them.
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Give them the courage and wisdom
to pursue with diligence and persistence
the principles of our great democracy.
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Grant them the fortitude needed
to persevere in the endeavors
to preserve freedom and human dignity.
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May they be blessed
with an understanding heart and soul
attuned to the needs of those in misery and suffering.
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Inspire in them
an ardent wish
coupled with
a firm determination
to rise to the heights of idealism
in the consideration of the issues facing America.
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Mayest Thou bless
the efforts of our President and the Congress
to bring about and to assure
lasting peace.
Amen.
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This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the fourth month of the second session of the 89th US Congress in the House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 112, part 7 (19 April 1966), page 8399.
Source(s)
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Congressional Record, vol. 112, part 7 (19 April 1966), p. 8399
Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
Co-authors:
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
Name: Hyman B. Faskowitz
Bio: Rabbi Hyman (Chaim) Boruch Faskowitz (d. 1998) was a prominent Orthodox rabbi in the United States. A student of the Novardok Yeshiva, he was a musmakh of Rav Avraham Yafen, and a member of the presidium of Agudas Harabbanim. In the United States, Rav Chaim Boruch was chief rabbi of the kehillah of Rochester, New York, the Brisker shul in Williamsburg, and eventually founded what is today Yeshiva Madreigas HaAdam in Queens. We know little more about Rabbi Faskowitz. If you know more, please contact us.
Website:
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/hayyim-barukh-faskowitz
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
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
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
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
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