Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Jerome Weistrop on 18 July 1967
Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=56868
open_content_license: Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication Date: 2024-06-16
Last Updated: 2025-02-18
Categories: 🇺🇸 United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies
Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., 90th 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 18 July 1967. . . .
Content:
Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Jerome Weistrop, Temple Shalom, Milton, Massachusetts
Sponsor: Rep. James A. Burke (D-MA)
Date of Prayer: 18 July 1967
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Av Haraḥamim — Merciful Father,
We ask Thy guidance,
that we may work for the goals
which we know to be good,
despite pressures to act expediently.
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Help us to resist the temptation
to be satisfied with short-term rewards,
that we may work toward
permanent achievement.
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As these Members of Congress
grapple with today’s challenges—
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Open their minds,
that they may learn from each other;
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Open their hands,
that they may cooperatively work together;
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Open their hearts,
that they may judge each other’s motives charitably.
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May we always remember—
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If I am not for myself,
who will be for me?
But if I am for myself alone,
what am I?
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Amen.
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This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the seventh month of the first session of the 90th US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 113 part 14 (18 July 1967), page 19224.
Source(s)
Congressional Record, vol. 113, part 14 (18 July 1967), p. 19224
Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
Co-authors:
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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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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
