[Prayer] on the Eve of Inauguration, by Rabbi Norman M. Goldburg (3 March 1933)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=51754

Date: 2023-06-21

Last Updated: 2025-04-25

Categories: 🇺🇸 Inauguration Day (January 20th), Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies, Coronations & Inaugurations

Tags: 20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., California State Legislature, English vernacular prayer, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Great Depression in the United States, inaugurations, Prayers of Guest Chaplains

Excerpt: "On the Eve of Inauguration" by Rabbi Norman Michael Goldburg, was offered before the California state legislature on 3 March 1933, and published in California Legislature 50th Session 1933: Prayers Offered at the Daily Sessions of the Assembly, p. 36. . . .

Content:

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	Heavenly Father: We are standing on the threshold of a new era. Tomorrow morning a new administration will take over the reins of government of these United States.
	We pray Thy blessing upon our new Chief Executive and upon all the members of his official family.
	Hopefully and prayerfully do we look to him to lead us out of the valley of despair, in which we have tarried so long.
	Give him wisdom, Thou Who art the source of wisdom. Grant him a double portion of Thy holy spirit, that he may have strength to cope successfully with the problems confronting the nation. Keep him in health, in vigor and in enthusiasm.
	Guard Thou his going out and his coming in, during these days of stress and strain and grant that the administration he inaugurates, will restore confidence, peace and prosperity to our people and through us to the entire world.

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“On the Eve of Inauguration” by Rabbi Norman Michael Goldburg, was offered before the California state legislature on 3 March 1933, and published in California Legislature 50th Session 1933: Prayers Offered at the Daily Sessions of the Assembly, p. 36.

Source(s)

 

Contributor: Norman Michael Goldburg

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Norman Michael Goldburg
  Bio: Rabbi Norman Michael Goldburg (Feb 22, 1902 - Jun 12, 1993) originally from St. Louis, Missouri, was ordained at HUC and graduated from the University of Cincinnati, afterward doing graduate work at the University of Chicago and Howard Divinity School. He served as rabbi of Temple B'nai Israel in Sacramento, California in the 1930s. There, he was appointed chaplain of the State Legislature during the biennial session of 1933, and led the Sacramento Council for Civic Unity through which he advocated for Japanese Americans’ civil rights. During World War Ⅱ, he served as a chaplain in the US Army. In 1949, he came to Augusta, Georgia where he served as rabbi for the the Walton Way Temple (later Temple Children of Israel) until 1968. Rabbi Goldburg also served as president of Augusta Library and taught philosophy at Augusta College. He held honorary degrees from HUC and Augusta (Georgia) College of Law. Besides his collection of prayers written during his tenure as chaplain in Sacramento, he also wrote the novel, Patrick J. McGilllcuddy and the Rabbi (1969).
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/norman-michael-goldburg
• 
  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

Featured Image:

Title: roosevelt-inauguration-day-ticket-verso
Caption: Admission ticket to the 1933 Presidential Inauguration. (verso)