Prayer after the death of President Ulysses S. Grant, by Rabbi Sabato Morais (8 August 1885)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=53786

Date: 2023-12-28

Last Updated: 2025-03-27

Categories: Mourning

Tags: 19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, Prayers for leaders, Ulysses Grant

Excerpt: This prayer by Rabbi Sabato Morais after the death of President Ulysses S. Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) concludes a eulogy published in the The Jewish Record on 14 August 1885, "General Grant: Substance of a Discourse Delivered Last Sabbath by the Rev. S. Morais." A note in the preface to the article dates the eulogy to the preceding Sabbath, 8 August 1885. The article was preserved in a newspaper clipping found on page 338 of the Sabato Morais Ledger. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Sovereign Lord! The sages of antiquity have taught us to believe that bodily trials cleanse away the impurities of the soul.
	May the excruciating pains borne with fortitude by Thy servant, Ulysses S. Grant,[1] Ulysses S. Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885), the 18th President of the United States served from March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877.  atone for his shortcomings.[2] Possibly a reference to the infamous General Order №11, sent out by General Ulysses S. Grant on 17 December 1862, the single greatest act of government antisemitism in U.S. history.
	May the supplications of a whole people wing up his spirit to the regions where the martyrs of Liberty have been imparadised.
	Deign, O God! to send Thy angels to announce to the deliverer of our Union forgiveness of sins, and the awarding of unalloyed bliss, surpassing all earthly delights and glorifications.
	Amen.

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This prayer by Rabbi Sabato Morais after the death of President Ulysses S. Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) concludes a eulogy published in the The Jewish Record on 14 August 1885, “General Grant: Substance of a Discourse Delivered Last Sabbath by the Rev. S. Morais.” A note in the preface to the article dates the eulogy to the preceding Sabbath, 8 August 1885. The article was preserved in a newspaper clipping found on page 338 of the Sabato Morais Ledger.

Source(s)

Prayer in eulogy for Ulysses Grant [Jewish Record 1885-08-14] (Sabato Morais Ledger, p. 338)

 

Notes

Notes

1	Ulysses S. Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885), the 18th President of the United States served from March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877.
2	Possibly a reference to the infamous General Order №11, sent out by General Ulysses S. Grant on 17 December 1862, the single greatest act of government antisemitism in U.S. history.

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Sabato Morais
  Bio: Rabbi Sabato Morais (שבתאי מוראיס; April 13, 1823 – November 11, 1897) was an Italian-American rabbi, leader of Mikveh Israel Synagogue in Philadelphia, pioneer of Italian Jewish Studies in America, and in 1886, co-founder (with Henry Pereira Mendes) of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America to preserve the knowledge and practice of traditional, historical rabbinic Judaism in the United States.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabato_Morais
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/sabato-morais
• 
  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: ULSG_7680_Grant-5-Days-Before-Death
Caption: Ulysses S. Grant Four Days* Before His Death (John G. Gilman for the Albany Journal on July 19, 1885) from a postcard in the collection Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, ULSG 7680