Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Hannah Spiro on 5 September 2023

Public Domain

Date: 2023-10-06

Last Updated: 2025-04-11

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, זמן תשובה Zman teshuvah, תחינות teḥinot

Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 5 September 2023. . . .

Content:

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Hannah Spiro, Hill Havurah, Washington, D.C.
Date of Prayer: 5 September 2023

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Creator of the universe, as the Jewish New Year approaches, we ready ourselves for transitions and growth; beginnings and endings. We anticipate repair, learning, and forward movement in our country, and we prepare to handle challenges together.
	The core Jewish belief imbuing this entire season is that of return. It is the idea that we are all born pure and beautiful, and as we move through our lives, we make mistakes or transgress, but every single day, and every new year, we have the power to return to our best selves through soul searching, healing, and making amends.
	This new year, may each of us remember that potential within ourselves.
	May we return to our best selves; and as we do, may we see the beauty, inherent value, and possibility for positive change in all those around us.
	Together, may we co-create a sweet new year.
	Amen.

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

Name: Hannah Spiro
Bio: Rabbi Hannah Spiro is the rabbi of the Hill Ḥavurah and a June 2017 Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (Reconstructing Judaism) graduate.
Website: https://www.hillhavurah.org/rabbi-hannah
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/hannah-spiro

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

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