Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff, chaplain, US Navy (ret.), Washington DC, Dec. 26, 2019 House prayer

"When Rabbis Bless Congress: The Great American Story of Jewish Prayers on Capitol Hill" ... buy the new book here:

Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff, chaplain, US Navy (ret.), Washington DC, Dec. 26, 2019 House prayer:

Almighty God,we pray, reflect, meditate in different ways, and during these holy days-- Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, more – some sing different songs,reflecting the beauty, diversity, of communities, cultures, faiths that make our nation rich. Yet we Americans, we the people, share songs of unity beyond diversity. When we embrace our nation’s highest dreams, our lives become its songs.

Of America, we sing:

“O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years.”

Of America, we sing:

“O beautiful for heroes proved, in liberating strife

Who more than self, their country love,

And mercy more than life.”

God bless our lives, our leaders, with a patriot dream of love of country, love of mercy, freedom, justice --over party, over self; to cooperate, sacrifice, even compromise for the “art of the possible,” for the greater good. God bless America, we sing. Help us, we pray, forever make this nation worthy of that blessing and that song. And let us say, Amen.