Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Leslie Gutterman on 15 September 2011

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=23104

Date: 2018-12-27

Last Updated: 2024-06-01

Categories: Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies, International Day of Democracy (September 15th), United States of America

Tags: 112th Congress, 21st 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 15 September 2011. . . .

Content:

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Leslie Gutterman, Temple Bethel El, Providence, R.I.
Date of Prayer: 09/15/2011

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise to thank and commend Senator Whitehouse for inviting Rabbi Leslie Gutterman here to deliver the prayer.

Les Gutterman has been an extraordinary figure in our State, a man of great wisdom, compassion and kindness, who has, since 1970, contributed extraordinarily to the State of Rhode Island and to the people of Rhode Island.

His congregation goes far beyond denominational lines. He is literally the rabbi for everyone. In fact, he is my rabbi, and I am pleased and proud to say that.

Mr. President, again, I am delighted to welcome Rabbi Gutterman here today.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.

Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, it is a great honor and a great pleasure to join my senior Senator Jack Reed in welcoming Rabbi Leslie Gutterman from Providence, RI, here onto the Senate floor to open the Senate on this day by leading us in prayer.

Rabbi Gutterman is a personal friend, but he is more than that. He is a person of real significance in the Rhode Island community. He has served as the rabbi of Temple Beth El for 40 years, which means he has officiated at the weddings of the children of people whose bar mitsvahs at which he officiated, and he has officiated at the bar mitsvahs of the grandchildren of people whose weddings at which he officiated. He is an important part of the Rhode Island community. He has been described as a community asset and a moral compass for Rhode Island. In addition, he is just a beautiful person.

He and his wife Janet have come here today to join us, and we are very proud and delighted that we could share this moment of the morning with our colleagues and with Rabbi Gutterman.

I yield the floor back to the majority leader with great pride in the presence of Rabbi Gutterman on our floor this morning.

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	O God, whose spirit is with us in every righteous act, invoke Your blessing upon the elected representatives of our government. Enlighten with Your wisdom those whom the people have entrusted with the guardianship of our rights and liberties.
	On this day, proclaimed as the International Day of Democracy, we pray that our country may ever be a beacon of freedom, justice, and peace. We pray for those in other lands who are oppressed and persecuted.
	Grant that this new day not be lost to us. May it be filled with Your purpose and our labors rewarded by the satisfaction gained by all who pursue a life of righteousness, virtue, and honor.
אָמֵן׃	Amen.

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Source(s)

112th Congress, 1st Session. Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 157, No. 137 — Daily Edition (September 15, 2011)

Contributor: the Congressional Record of the United States of America

Co-authors:

• 
  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: Leslie Gutterman
  Bio: ​Leslie Yale Gutterman, is Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth-El, Providence, Rhode Island, having served from 1970 to 2015, upon his ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. In 1974 when Rabbi William G. Braude retired, Rabbi Gutterman became the synagogue's senior rabbi. A 1964 graduate of the University of Michigan, Rabbi Gutterman has been involved with dozens of civic organizations and has served as a board member of many preeminent institutions including: Butler Hospital, The Rhode Island Telecommunications Commission, The Providence Athenaeum, Hospice Care, Rhode Island Kids Count, Trinity Repertory Theatre, Interfaith Health Care Ministries, Brown University's Board of Religious Overseers, and Bryant University. Rabbi Gutterman was president of the Rhode Island Board of Rabbis, the Jewish Family Service and the national Rabbinic Alumni Association of Reform Judaism as well as the Rhode Island Committee for the Humanities. He has served on the executive board of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and taught at Providence College. For 20 years, Rabbi Gutterman wrote a monthly column for the religion page of The Providence Journal. He received a public service award from the City of Providence on its 350th anniversary and the lifetime achievement award from the Rhode Island Council of Churches and in 2012 he was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. Rabbi Gutterman was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College and holds honorary degrees from the University of Rhode Island, Roger Williams University, Johnson & Wales University, Providence College, Rhode Island College and Bryant University.
  Website: https://www.brgri.org/rabbi-leslie-gutterman.html
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/leslie-gutterman

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