Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate: Rabbi Samuel Thurman on 26 February 1945

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=54491

Date: 2024-02-26

Last Updated: 2024-02-26

Categories: Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies, National Brotherhood Week, United States of America

Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., 79th Congress, English vernacular prayer, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, U.S. Senate, World War Ⅱ, תחינות teḥinot

Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. Senate on 26 February 1945. . . .

Content:

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Samuel Thurman, of the United Hebrew Temple, St. Louis, Missouri
Sponsor: n/a
Date of Prayer: 26 February 1945

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Almighty and Merciful God: Humbly we approach Thee, for Thou art mighty, yet also with abiding faith in Thy mercy. We offer Thee thanksgiving for all the bounty which Thou hast bestowed upon our blessed land, its fruitful fields, its lofty mountains, its richly flowing rivers, its peaceful valleys.
	All the more reason for our hearts being heavy laden with anxiety and sorrow that the flower of our youth, the strong and the brave, the free sons and daughters of America, must now be offering themselves in fierce and cruel combat against enemies that either do not know Thee or have forgotten Thee and Thy commandments. They scoff at Thy power and scorn Thy law of justice and righteousness.
	Grant, O Lord, speedy victory to our brave fighting forces— a victory that shall bring in a new order of fellowship and faith and lasting justice and peace.
	We ask Thy blessing on these the chosen representatives of sovereign States, assembled in earnest and devoted council to deliberate and legislate for the good and welfare of all the people of these United States. Guide them by Thy wisdom and sustain them by Thy power that they may act in unity of purpose. Preserve them from the pitfalls of discord which may arise from sincere and honest difference of opinion and native temperament.
	Strengthen in all of us the faith which is the common heritage of all Americans— the faith that Thou art the Father of all of us and that we are all brothers in Thee. Thou dost not deny the least of us. How then dare we deny one another? Make us more conscious of this bond of brotherhood which is the most sacred token of Thy fatherhood and is the genius of America and of our democracy.
	Bless, O Lord, all those who guide and serve the destinies of our Nation— whom the people have set in authority: The President, his counselors and advisers.
	Bless this high assembly of chosen leaders. Lay Thy guiding hand upon him who presides over this supreme body of lawmakers, that he may direct its deliberations with a wisdom matched by his tried honesty, fairness, and loyalty.
	Thus may we at home pursue the tasks of priesthood, as keepers of the flame of truth and justice. Thus shall we keep the faith with those on the battle fronts across the seas— the faith of America which is the faith in the brotherhood of justice and righteousness and peace— the faith in Thee, our God and Father. Amen.

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This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the second month of the first session of the 79th US Congress in the Senate, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 91, part 2 (1945), page 1403.

Source(s)

Congressional Record-Senate, vol. 91, part 2 (26 February 1945), p. 1403

 

Contributor: Samuel Thurman

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Samuel Thurman
  Bio: Born in Russia, Rabbi Samuel Thurman came to America as a child and grew up in Boston. There he attended Boston Latin Grammar School and then Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude. From there he enrolled in Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati to prepare for the rabbinate. After serving in Lexington, Kentucky (ca.1908), Kalamazoo, Michigan (ca.1908-1912, and Trenton, New Jersey (ca.1912-1914, he came to United Hebrew in St. Louis, Missouri in 1914, where he served the congregation until he died in 1963 at the age of eighty. An exceptionally dynamic orator, he spoke frequently before other congregations, including many Christian churches. Thurman was instrumental in bringing together rabbis of fellow Jewish congregations through his role in the creation of the St. Louis Rabbinical Association. A Thirty-Third Degree Mason, he was a longtime fiend of Harry S. Truman. Thurman was singularly honored when he was invited to deliver the invocation at President Truman's inauguration in January 1949, the first rabbi in American history to participate in a presidential inauguration.
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/samuel-thurman
• 
  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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