Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Gerald M. Kane on 1 October 2002

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Date: 2020-07-05

Last Updated: 2024-06-01

Categories: Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies, United States of America

Tags: 107th 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. House of Representatives on 1 October 2002. . . .

Content:
Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Gerald M. Kane, Temple Beth El, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Date of Prayer: 10/01/2002

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I wish to take a moment of the Senate’s time to particularly acknowledge the presence of our guest Chaplain, Gerald Kane, who is the Rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Las Cruces, NM.

Rabbi Kane was ordained first in Cincinnati in 1970 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He has served pulpits in Portland, OR, New Orleans, Phoenix, and in Kansas City, before coming to Las Cruces some 3 years ago.

Las Cruces is the second largest city in my home State of New Mexico, a very vibrant, growing metropolitan area. It is one of only five communities in New Mexico that has a synagogue. It has the third synagogue that was built in our State.

Our Jewish community has always had a special role in the life of Las Cruces. Three of the mayors of that city have been of the Jewish faith.

Following the September 11 attacks, Rabbi Kane, together with other religious leaders in Las Cruces, issued a statement of unity and support at the Las Cruces Islamic Center. He has coordinated clergy participation in this year following 9/11, and has worked very hard to bring the community together in that regard.

We are very proud that he is here. In talking with him this morning, we were at a loss to think when we last had a clergyman from New Mexico as our guest Chaplain in the Senate. But it is entirely appropriate that we do today.

I am very honored that Rabbi Kane was able to be with us.

Also, I wish to acknowledge the presence of his wife Cyrille, who is here with him. They have four children and nine grandchildren.

Let me also acknowledge the very good work of one of the staff people who works with me, Jeff Steinborn, who works in our Las Cruces office and who helped make the arrangements today for Rabbi Kane to be here.

Contribute a translation Source (English)

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

In these most challenging of times,
may this parable from Jewish tradition
provide inspiration and guidance to you,
the distinguished Senators
of our wonder-filled country.

A man,
wandering lost in a dark forest for several days,
finally encounters another.
He calls out:
“Brother, show me the way out of here.”

The man replies:
“Brother, I too am lost.
I can only tell you this:
the paths I have tried to get out of this forest
have led me nowhere.
They have only led me astray.
Here, take hold of my hand,
and let us search for a way out of this dark place
together.”

“And so it is with us,”
the author of the parable concludes.
“When we go our separate ways,
we may go astray.
Let us join hands
and look for the path
out of the darkness
together.”[1] This parable is derived from a famous story relayed by the ḥassidic rebbe of Tzantz, Ḥayyim Halberstam (1793–1876). This particular variation is given (uncredited alas) in The New Union Prayer Book (ed. Chaim Stern, 1975) p.349-350. Stern may have first learned the story via Martin Buber. Here is the psychotherapist and author, Sheldon Kopp, making reference to the story in an article on Hasidic Psychotherapy: “[In explaining the relationship of a Ḥasid to a Rebbe, Martin Buber] tells the story of Rabbi Hayyim, who described his followers as being like men lost in a forest. They find a man who has been lost even longer than they have, and ask him to show them how to get out of the forest. His reply is ‘That I cannot do. But I can point out the ways that lead further into the thicket, and after that, let us try to find the way together'” (Jewish Standard, July 30, 1970). 

Dear God,
inspire those gathered in this historic chamber
to walk on the path of freedom,
respect,
and solidarity
together
into the light
of a sun-filled day.

Imbue them
with Your wise guidance,
tremendous strength,
and awesome courage.
Together
may we better pursue the high ideals
of liberty,
justice,
and equality
for all upon which this, our great Nation, is founded.

Lift up Thy countenance upon us,
and grant us Thy most precious of blessings,
the gift of shalom,
balance,
and peace.
Amen.

Source(s)

107th Congress, 2nd Session
Issue: Vol. 148, No. 126 — Daily Edition (October 1, 2002)

Click to access CREC-2002-10-01-pt1-PgS9653.pdf

 

Notes

Notes
1 This parable is derived from a famous story relayed by the ḥassidic rebbe of Tzantz, Ḥayyim Halberstam (1793–1876). This particular variation is given (uncredited alas) in The New Union Prayer Book (ed. Chaim Stern, 1975) p.349-350. Stern may have first learned the story via Martin Buber. Here is the psychotherapist and author, Sheldon Kopp, making reference to the story in an article on Hasidic Psychotherapy: “[In explaining the relationship of a Ḥasid to a Rebbe, Martin Buber] tells the story of Rabbi Hayyim, who described his followers as being like men lost in a forest. They find a man who has been lost even longer than they have, and ask him to show them how to get out of the forest. His reply is ‘That I cannot do. But I can point out the ways that lead further into the thicket, and after that, let us try to find the way together'” (Jewish Standard, July 30, 1970).

Contributor: the Congressional Record of the United States of America

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