Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Harry Nelson on 23 May 1963

Public Domain

Date: 2024-05-12

Last Updated: 2024-06-01

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

Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., 88th 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 23 May 1963. . . .

Content:

Guest Chaplain: Rabbi Harry Nelson, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, Bridgeport, ConnecticutN
Sponsor: n/a
Date of Prayer: 23 May 1963

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	O Lord our God, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth, without whom no human work can long prosper. We beseech Thee to bestow upon the Members of this body wisdom and courage, equal to their responsibilities.
	We acknowledge with gratitude our glorious achievements in exploring Thy universe. Help us now to widen the horizons of our hearts to encompass all mankind in a common love.
	Grant that our beloved country be a mighty force for righteousness among men, ever seeking to provide more adequate forms of freedom and justice for all its citizens, and ever advancing the cause of democracy and peace among all the nations of the world. Amen.

This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the fifth month of the first session of the 88th US Congress in the House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 109, part 7 (23 May 1963), page 9182.

Source(s)

Congressional Record, vol. 109, part 7 (23 May 1963), p. 9182

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)

Co-authors:

Name: Harry Nelson
Bio: Harry Nelson (1908-1964), born in Berwick, Pennsylvania, was a Conservative movement rabbi. Ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, he served as rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Bridgeport, Connecticut from 1934 till his death. He was also the secretary of the Rabbinical Assembly.
Website:
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/harry-nelson

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 (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

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Title: Flag_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.svg
Caption: Flag of the United States House of Representatives