[Prayer] on Ending Apprenticeship and Beginning Paid Work, by Lilian Helen Montagu (1895)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=50620

Date: 2023-05-07

Last Updated: 2025-05-09

Categories: 🌐 International Women's Day (March 8th), Labor, Fulfillment, and Parnasah

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: "On Ending Apprenticeship and Beginning Paid Work" was written by Lilian Helen Montagu and published in Prayers for Jewish Working Girls (1895), pp. 22-23. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	On ending apprenticeship and beginning paid work.
	Almighty Father,— I am about to enter upon a trade, which will fill all my time. Grant me strength to do my work cheerfully and thoroughly, so that my employer may be satisfied with me, and that I may derive self-respect from my efforts to be useful. Help me to be sweet-tempered with my new companions, eager and ready to please.
	Almighty Father, in the hurry and bustle of my everyday life, let me always find time to spend a few moments in communion with Thee, for a prayer, however short, will be pleasing unto Thee, if spoken with a humble spirit and a trusting heart.
	Help me always to remember how hard my parents have worked for my sake, and let me never grudge them the little help which my work may afford them.
	O Lord, make me understand that my conduct does not affect myself alone. If I am steadfast, brave, truthful, gentle, and honourable, my reward will be shared by all my brethren of the House of Israel. If I am cowardly, dishonest, untruthful and bold, shame will descend on all my race.
	O God, do Thou lead me for ever!
	For God shall bring every work into judgment, whether it be good or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
	Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

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“On Ending Apprenticeship and Beginning Paid Work” was written by Lilian Helen Montagu and published in Prayers for Jewish Working Girls (1895), pp. 22-23.

Source(s)

 

Contributor: Lilian Helen Montagu

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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