Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Israel Goldstein on 14 July 1977

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=56864

Date: 2024-06-16

Last Updated: 2025-05-04

Categories: 🇺🇸 United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies

Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., 95th Congress, 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 14 July 1977. . . .

Content:

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Israel Goldstein, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, New York, New York
Sponsor: Rep. Sidney Yates (D-IL)
Date of Prayer: 14 July 1977

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Lord of the Universe, we invoke Thy blessing upon all who call upon Thee in truth. We seek light and strength, the light of wisdom to enlighten the counsels of this legislative body, and the strength of will to fortify the executive arm of our Government.
	On behalf of the beloved land of my birth which recently entered the portals of its third century, and the land of my ancestors, now revivified, which recently entered the portals of its third decade, this servant of both invokes Thy blessing upon both these kindred states. Divided by size and distance, may they ever continue to be united in spirit and purpose, to carry the torch of liberty and the menorah of enlightenment.
	May beloved America and beloved Israel never cease to be strongholds of democracy for all men and nations. Amen.

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This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the seventh month of the first session of the 95th US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 123 part 18 (14 June 1977), page 22903.

Source(s)

Congressional Record, vol. 123, part 18 (14 July 1977), p. 22903

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Israel Goldstein
  Bio: Israel Goldstein (June 18, 1896 – April 11, 1986) was an American-born Israeli rabbi, author and Zionist leader. He was one of the leading founders of Brandeis University.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Goldstein
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/israel-goldstein
• 
  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

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