Tuesday's Prayer, by Lilian Helen Montagu (1895)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=50713

Date: 2023-05-09

Last Updated: 2024-12-17

Categories: Tuesday

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

Excerpt: "Tuesday's Prayer" was written by Lilian Helen Montagu and published in Prayers for Jewish Working Girls (1895), pp. 12-13. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Tuesday’s prayer.
	Almighty Father,— I thank Thee for Thy never-ceasing mercies; let me not be afraid. Increase my faith in Thee day by day.
	O Lord, whether we are rich or poor, Thou hast given us our special tasks. If we work thoroughly, earnestly and well, we are doing Thy work, whatever our calling in life may be. Let me never forget this, and grant that I may never feel ashamed of my work, for then I should prove myself faithless unto Thee.
	Whether we are rich or poor, we have all alike to bear troubles, sadness, and misfortunes. If we could only understand, we should know that these troubles are often of our own making, and that we are responsible for them.
	O Lord, give me strength to try to leave a little corner of the world rather better than I found it!
	Let me never be crushed by grief; raise me, lead me, strengthen me! Thou hast given me the power to rise triumphantly above circumstances; no human barrier, no accident of fortune, need hold me back, if I am brave and faithful.
	O Lord, I am Thy messenger, grant that I may carry out worthily the great duties Thou hast imposed upon me!
	Order my steps in Thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. (Psalms 119:133)

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“Tuesday’s Prayer” was written by Lilian Helen Montagu and published in Prayers for Jewish Working Girls (1895), pp. 12-13.

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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