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: 2025-02-02
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
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Source (English) |
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Almighty God,
This month is filled with memories of war:
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Guns of August 1914.
First World War: the war to end all wars, we prayed.
How wrong we were.
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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.
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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.
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In politics we find peace and common ground elusive.
Compromise now seen as weakness
as extremist views drown out our neighbors’ fears.
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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.
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Great heroes helped us win world wars.
May heroic leaders help unite us to seek peace at home.
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And may we say Amen.
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Contributor: Arnold E. Resnicoff
Co-authors:
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Name: Arnold E. Resnicoff
Bio: Arnold E. Resnicoff (born 1946) is a Conservative rabbi who began his career serving as a military officer and then as a military chaplain. He served in Vietnam and Europe before attending rabbinical school after which he was a U.S. Navy Chaplain for almost 25 years. After the Vietnam War, he promoted the creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and delivered the closing prayer at its 1982 dedication. Rabbi Resnicoff was present at the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and the following year, President Ronald Reagan shared Rabbi Resnicoff's eyewitness account. After retiring from the military he became the National Director of Interreligious Affairs for the American Jewish Committee and served as Special Assistant (for Values and Vision) to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, serving at the equivalent military rank of Brigadier General. Resnicoff holds several degrees, including an honorary doctorate. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service, and the Chapel of Four Chaplains Hall of Heroes Gold Medallion.
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Resnicoff
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/arnold-resnicoff
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Name: the Congressional Record of the United States of America
Bio: The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress, published by the United States Government Printing Office and issued when Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks. At the end of a session of Congress, the daily editions are compiled in bound volumes constituting the permanent edition. Statutory authorization for the Congressional Record is found in Chapter 9 of Title 44 of the United States Code. (wikipedia)
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Record
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/united-states-congressional-record
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