Prayer for the Government [of the United States of America], by David Nunes Carvalho (Reformed Society of Israelites, Charleston, South Carolina, 1825)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=39388

Date: 2021-10-08

Last Updated: 2022-11-18

Categories: Government & Country, After the Aliyot, United States of America

Tags: 19th century C.E., 56th century A.M., American Jewry of the United States, American Reform Movement, South Carolina, United States

Excerpt: This historically significant prayer for the government of the United States of America offered by the Reformed Society of Israelites (Charleston, S.C.), appears in The Sabbath service and miscellaneous prayers, adopted by the Reformed society of Israelites, founded in Charleston, S.C., November 21, 1825 (1830, Bloch: 1916). . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Almighty God! sole ruler and governor of the whole universe! Thou who hast created countless systems for thy glory! Thou, who fillest all space with thy wisdom, truth, order and benevolence, in thy boundless mercy, bless, preserve and enlighten the President of these United States, together with his counsellors, and all the officers of the General and State Governments, executive, legislative and judicial. O, may a portion of thy divine wisdom fill the halls of their assemblies, and direct their hearts and understandings for the honour of thy holy name, and the prosperity of our beloved country. May the spirit of peace be ever in their counsels, and integrity be their leading principle.
	We have reason to bless and extol thy goodness, O Lord! that thou hast numbered us with the inhabitants of this thy much favoured land, uniting us all into one great family, where the noble and virtuous mind is the only crown of distinction, and equality of rights the only fountain of power.
	We bless thy holy name, that thou hast removed the intolerance of bigotry far from out this happy republic, and hast relieved the people from the yoke of political and religious bondage.
	May thy redeeming spirit visit all the nations of the earth, and may the smiles of thy auspicious goodness be a light to the eyes of rulers, and the fear of thy justice awaken contrition in the heart of the oppressor.
	Graciously incline thine ear to the supplications of thy servants, assembled here this day.
	Bless the people of these United States. May sentiments of charity and friendship unite them as citizens of one common country. May the lights of science and civilization, as the flaming sword of Eden, defend them on every side from the subtle hypocrite and open adversary.
	Spread thy benign influence, great Author of existence! over all mankind. Grant this for the sake of thy supreme excellence and never ending mercies, and let us all say, Amen.

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This prayer for the government of the United States of America offered by the Reformed Society of Israelites (Charleston, S.C.), appears in The Sabbath service and miscellaneous prayers, adopted by the Reformed society of Israelites, founded in Charleston, S.C., November 21, 1825 (1830, Bloch: 1916). Gary Zola writes that the prayer was written by David Carvalho for the Society as indicated in Abraham Moïse’s annotated copy of the 1830 prayerbook.^[1] Find, “The First Reform Prayerbook in America” (p. 115 ft. 29) in Platforms and prayer books: theological and liturgical perspectives on Reform Judaism (2002)  Zola calls this prayer “historically significant” as it is the first time that the traditional prayer for the government was replaced by a different prayer in an American siddur. –Aharon Varady

Source(s)

 

Notes[+]

Notes

1	Find, “The First Reform Prayerbook in America” (p. 115 ft. 29) in Platforms and prayer books: theological and liturgical perspectives on Reform Judaism (2002)

Contributor: Reformed Society of Israelites

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: David Nunes Carvalho
  Bio: David Nunes Carvalho (1784-1860), born and educated in London, England, was a merchant, author, and ḥazzan for the Reformed Society of Israelites in Charleston, South Carolina, the first Reform congregation in the United States. He helped to compile the first Reform prayerbook in English, the fourth oldest Reform prayerbook in the world.
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/david-nunes-carvalho
• 
  Name: Reformed Society of Israelites
  Bio: The Reformed Society of Israelites (1824-1833) was a group of forty-seven congregants of Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim, Charleston, South Carolina, who gathered in late 1824 to petition the congregation to modify the service of prayers with an adapted liturgy emphasizing English translations, original hymns, and other modifications. Among other reforms, the group called for shorter services and sermons conducted in English that would relate the weekly parashah to everyday life. Prominent leaders in the group were Isaac Harby (1788–1828), Abraham Moïse (1799-1869), and David Nunes Carvalho (1784-1860). After Harby's death in 1828, the group published a prayerbook (later reprinted by Barnett Elzas/Bloch in 1916). In 1833, the group dissolved but in rejoining Beth Elohim they also managed to succeed in their original mission in putting the congregation on a firm Reform movement trajectory.
  Website:
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/reformed-society-of-israelites
• 
  Name: Aharon N. Varady (editing/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: Print; Carvalho, Solomon Nunes; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Charleston, South Carolina, United States; 1838_Kaplan Collection Upenn
Caption: Print; Carvalho, Solomon Nunes; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Charleston, South Carolina, United States; 1838_Kaplan Collection Upenn