Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Herbert J. Mandl on 27 July 1978

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=56980

Date: 2024-06-19

Last Updated: 2024-12-17

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 27 July 1978. . . .

Content:

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Herbert J. Mandl, Kehilath Israel Synagogue, Kansas City, Missouri
Sponsor: n/a
Date of Prayer: 27 July 1978

Mr. BOLLING, Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Herbert J. Mandl, senior rabbi of Kehilath Israel Synagogue which is located in the Fifth Congressional District of Kansas City, Mo., gave the very fine opening prayer we have just heard.

Kehilath Israel is one of the largest traditional synagogues in the State of Missouri with over 4,000 members.

On January 29, 1978, Rabbi Mandl was installed as spiritual leader of the synagogue. I had the pleasure of participating in the installation service.

The rabbi’s wife, Barbara, and parents are here, as are several other relatives and friends.

---

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Almighty God, we ask Thy blessings on our country, and these, our Representatives, who help legislate laws to further the peace and welfare of all Americans.
	Universal Father, help us to unite all the citizens of our Republic by a bond of genuine brotherhood. Sustain us in our endeavors to eradicate prejudice and preserve the precious ideals and democratic institutions of our American way of life.
	Enable true liberty-loving men the world over to witness the fulfillment of the vision of our prophet; “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation— neither shall men learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3) Bless these, our legislators, with wisdom and understanding to guide us and the world, as well, to peace and friendship. Amen.

---

This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the seventh month of the second session of the 95th US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 124 part 17 (27 July 1978), page 23079.

Source(s)

Congressional Record, vol. 124, part 17 (27 July 1978), p. 23079

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Herbert J. Mandl
  Bio: Rabbi Herbert Mandl, born in Baltimore, Maryland, is an Conservative movement rabbi in the United States. He graduated cum laude from Johns Hopkins University in 1965 with an A.B. in German and Semitics. In 1969, he was given semikhah by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. (He also received semikhah from Rabbi Aryeh Leib Spitz.) He has served as rabbi of congregations and served in academic positions in Edmonton and Montreal, Canada. He served as Senior Rabbi of Kehilath Israel since 1977. In 1981, Rabbi Mandl received a Ph.D. magna cum laude in Medieval Philosophy and Law from the University of Montreal where his dissertation was on the Jewish Matrimonial Law in comparison to the Christian laws of the time. He received his Doctor of Divinity degree in 1994 from JTS. He was honored by the Vatican by allowing him to do research in the Vatican Library in 2013.
  Website: https://kcrabbi.org/about-us/rabbinic-board-staff/rabbi-mandl/
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/herbert-mandl
• 
  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