Prayer for those who are unavoidably prevented from keeping the Sabbath, by Lilian Helen Montagu (1895)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=50554

Date: 2023-05-05

Last Updated: 2025-03-27

Categories: Labor, Fulfillment, and Parnasah, Shaḥarit l'Shabbat ul'Yom Tov

Tags: 19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Jewish Women's Prayers, teḥinot in English, West Central Girls' Club, תחינות teḥinot

Excerpt: "Prayer for those who are unavoidably prevented from keeping the Sabbath" was written by Lilian Helen Montagu and published in Prayers for Jewish Working Girls (1895), pp. 20-21. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Prayer for those who are unavoidably prevented from keeping the Sabbath.
	Almighty Father,— I humbly entreat Thee for forgiveness, since on this day which Thou hast specially appointed for our day of rest, I do my regular work.
	In acting thus, O Lord, I feel that I am directly disobeying Thy divine command. But, Almighty God, Thou knowest that it is my own need and the need of my family which drive me to work.
	If I remained away from my employment on the Sabbath day, I should become a burden upon my beloved parents, and lead a life of idleness, displeasing unto Thee.
	O Lord, in giving up the Sabbath, I am sacrificing some of the purest joys which can crown a Jewish life.
	I am resolved, my Father to work as hard as possible to improve my circumstances, so that in time they will allow me to give up work on the Sabbath and to keep thy glorious Law.
	In the meantime, O Lord, I will strive to preserve my faith in Thee, to spend a Godlike life, worthy of Thy servant.
	Help me, O God, to lead a holy, beautiful life; preserve me from temptation and sin. My strength alone will not be enough to make me cling unto Thee. Be Thou with me now and for evermore.
	“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” (Micah 6:8)

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“Prayer for those who are unavoidably prevented from keeping the Sabbath” was written by Lilian Helen Montagu and published in Prayers for Jewish Working Girls (1895), pp. 20-21.

Source(s)

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Lilian Helen Montagu
  Bio: The Hon. Lilian Helen "Lily" Montagu, CBE (22 December 1873 – 22 January 1963) was the first woman to play a major role in Progressive Judaism. Until the age of 15, she was educated at Doreck College, and privately educated thereafter. In 1893 she founded with Emily Marion Harris the West Central Jewish Girls Club (which subsequently merged into the Jewish Girls' Brigade). She was active in social improvement, particularly in respect to unemployment, sweat shops and bad housing. In 1901 and 1902, Montagu laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Jewish Religious Union in London. In February 1902 she arranged the first meeting of the Jewish Religious Union for the Advancement of Liberal Judaism at her sister Henrietta Franklin's house. The Union set up the first synagogue in Liberal Judaism in the UK and helped found the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Montagu was a founding member with her sister of the Jewish League for Woman Suffrage. She sat on the executive committee and led the meetings in prayer. Following the retirement of Leo Baeck, Montagu served for a brief stint (1955–1959) in her 80s as president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, before handing the reins over to Solomon Freehof.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Montagu
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/lilian-helen-montagu
• 
  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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