Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Martin S. Halpern on 6 June 1967
Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=57062
open_content_license: Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication Date: 2024-06-23
Last Updated: 2025-02-18
Categories: 🇺🇸 United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies
Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., 90th 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 6 June 1967. . . .
Content:
Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Martin S. Halpern, Shaare Tefila Congregation, Washington, D.C.
Sponsor: n/a
Date of Prayer: 6 June 1967
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Source (English) |
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The Lord of Hosts is exalted through justice
and God the Holy one is sanctified through righteousness. (Isaiah 5:16)
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O Thou who art the God of justice and righteousness:
We stand before Thy presence
to seek Thy guidance and counsel
in this time of crisis
and threat to the safety of the world
and to the security of all mankind.
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Out of the crucible of adversity, O Lord,
the Founding Fathers of our blessed America
forged our Nation into a citadel of democracy
dedicated to the pursuit of justice
for all the peoples of the earth.
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Grant unto our representatives, here assembled
to deliberate in these days of peril,
continued courage and wisdom
equal to our responsibilities
to lead all nations great and small
in the attempt to attain peace with integrity
and to accord human dignity to men of good will.
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Make our country Thine instrument, O God,
to teach nations who would defy Thy law of justice and love
that true and lasting peace must be founded on
the practice of truth,
righteousness
and mutual respect in the council of nations.
Thus may we bring to fulfillment
the ancient vision of that glorious day
when man shall do no evil
and work no destruction.
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For the earth shall be filled
with Thy knowledge, O Lord,
as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14)
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This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the sixth month of the first session of the 90th US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 113 part 11 (6 June 1967), page 14799.
Source(s)
Congressional Record, vol. 113, part 11 (6 June 1967), p. 14799
Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
Co-authors:
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Name: Martin S. Halpern
Bio: Rabbi Martin Samuel Halpern (1927-1994), born in New York, was a Conservative movement rabbi and civil rights acitivist in the United States. He served Shaare Tefila Congregation in Washington, D.C. and served as president of the Washington Board of Rabbis. (We know little more about Rabbi Halpern's career. If you know more, please contact us.
Website:
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/martin-halpern
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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
Featured Image:
Title: Flag_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.svg
Caption: Flag of the United States House of Representatives
