Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Chaplain (Capt.) Alan M. Greenspan on 8 June 1967
Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=57071
open_content_license: Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication date_src_start: 1967-06-08 date_src_end: 1967-06-08 languages_meta: [{"name":"English","code":"eng","standard":"ISO 639-3"}] scripts_meta: [{"name":"Latin","code":"Latn","standard":"ISO 15924"}] Date: 2024-06-25
Last Updated: 2025-04-25
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, prayers of military chaplains, U.S. House of Representatives, תחינות teḥinot
Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 8 June 1967. . . .
Content:
Guest Chaplain: Chaplain (Capt.) Alan M. Greenspan, Fort Dix, New Jersey
Sponsor: n/a
Date of Prayer: 8 June 1967
| Contribute a translation |
Source (English) |
|
|
Sovereign of the Universe,
in whose hands lie the destinies
of all mankind,
we pray for Thy guidance
during these troubled days.
As we weigh decisions of great consequence,
grant us the wisdom and foresight
that our deliberations might ring true.
Give us the insight
to arrive at just solutions
to those awesome problems
which face us.
|
|
|
Protect the dignity of our fellow men,
all of whom have been created
in Thy image.
Enable us to live in harmony,
free from the fears of oppression,
hunger, or want.
|
|
|
May the world see and accept
the truth of that inspiring line,
engraved into the Liberty Bell
and signed with the blood of those
who have sacrificed their lives
to insure that its message of hope
becomes a reality—
“And ye shall proclaim liberty
throughout the land
and to all the inhabitants thereof.”
|
|
|
In a more general sense,
may the nations of the world recognize
that not by power
nor by might
will mankind live together
in harmony,
but by the Word of God.
|
|
|
Then shall the words of the prophet be fulfilled
that the lamb shall dwell with the lion;
“nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3)
|
|
|
Almighty God,
how goodly upon mountains
are the feet of Him
that bringeth good tidings
that declareth peace.
|
|
|
May this be Thy will.
Amen.
|
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 (8 June 1967), page 15130.
Source(s)
Congressional Record, vol. 113, part 11 (8 June 1967), p. 15130
Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
Co-authors:
-
Name: Alan M. Greenspan
Bio: Rabbi Alan M. Greenspan, born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was an Orthodox rabbi and military chaplain in the United States. He graduated from Yeshiva University in 1960 and received his semikhah there in 1962. He enlisted in teh US Army as a chaplain staff specialist in 1960 and served in Saigon during the Vietnam War in 1966.
Website:
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/alan-greenspan
-
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
