Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff on 8 August 2023

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=52333

open_content_license: Public Domain (17 U.S. Code §105 - Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works)

Date: 2023-08-08

Last Updated: 2024-06-01

Categories: Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies

Tags: 118th Congress, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, U.S. House of Representatives, תחינות teḥinot

Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 8 August 2023. . . .


Content:
Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, US Navy chaplain (retired), Washington, D.C.
Date of Prayer: 8 August 2023


Contribute a translation Source (English)
Almighty God,
This month is filled with memories of war:
Guns of August 1914.
First World War: the war to end all wars, we prayed.
How wrong we were.
Bombs of August 1945,
unleashed on Hiroshima, Nagasaki.
Built to win — and end — a second global war
And usher in a time of peace…that never came to pass.
In Ukraine, brave citizens
Fight back since Russia has let slip the dogs of war,
while here, a different war:
Shootings in our schools, shops, sites of prayer.
In politics we find peace and common ground elusive.
Compromise now seen as weakness
as extremist views drown out our neighbors’ fears.
We need leaders brave enough to lead
the way they thought they would
before they came to power;
Who remember dreams of who they’d be
If they only had the chance.
Great heroes helped us win world wars.
May heroic leaders help unite us to seek peace at home.
And may we say Amen.

 

Contributor: Arnold E. Resnicoff

Co-authors:

Featured Image:
Flag_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.svg
Title: Flag_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.svg
Caption: Flag of the United States House of Representatives