[Prayer] for sincerity, by Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques (1916)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=48775

open_content_license: Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

Date: 2023-02-06

Last Updated: 2025-02-18

Categories: Addenda

Tags: 20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., British Jewry, English vernacular prayer, Liberal Movement for Progressive Judaism in Britain, paraliturgical elohai neshamah, paraliturgical elohai netsor, teḥinot in English

Excerpt: Basil L.Q. Henriques's prayer "For Sincerity" was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George's Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George's Settlement Synagogue (1929), "Special Prayers" section, page 93. . . .

Content:

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	For sincerity.
	Thou art my Creator, and the soul which Thou hast breathed into me is pure. Thereby hast Thou given me the power of discerning right from wrong and good from evil. O my God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile. May all my thoughts be clean and kindly, and may all that I do be open and sincere. Help me to be true and upright towards every one. By blessing, may I be blessed. By making happy, may I become happy. By trusting, may I be trusted. By showing lovingkindness and truth, may I receive love and mercy at Thy throne of Mercy. Amen.

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Source (English)

For sincerity.

Thou art my Creator,
and the soul
which Thou hast breathed into me
is pure.
Thereby hast Thou given me
the power of discerning
right from wrong
and good from evil.
O my God,
guard my tongue from evil
and my lips from speaking guile.
May all my thoughts
be clean and kindly,
and may all that I do
be open and sincere.
Help me to be
true and upright
towards every one.
By blessing,
may I be blessed.
By making happy,
may I become happy.
By trusting,
may I be trusted.
By showing lovingkindness and truth,
may I receive love and mercy
at Thy throne of Mercy.
Amen.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Sincerity” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 93.

Source(s)

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

Name: Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques
Bio: Sir Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques CBE JP (17 October 1890 – 2 December 1961) was a British philanthropist of Portuguese Jewish descent, concentrating his work in the East End of London during the first half of the 20th century.
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_Henriques
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/basil-lucas-quixano-henriques
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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Title: for sincerity (Basil L.Q. Henriques 1929)
Caption: for sincerity (Basil L.Q. Henriques 1929)