Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi United Hebrew Congregation Commonwealth, Senate prayer Nov 2 2011

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full video of Sen. Joe Lieberman sponsoring remarks here

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregation of the Commonwealth, London, England, Senate prayer Nov. 2, 2011

Rabbi transcript: Sovereign of the universe, who created all in love, teach us to love all that is good and beautiful in this world. Teach us to honor the dignity of difference, recognizing that one who is not in our image is nonetheless in Your image; never forgetting that the people not like us are still people--like us. At this fateful moment in the human story, bless us that we may be a blessing to others. Guide the nations of the world to honor You by honoring one another, so that by reaching out in love we may turn enemies into friends and become your family on Earth, as You are our parent in heaven. Beloved God, bless the Members of this United States Congress and guide their deliberation, that they may govern this great Nation with wisdom and justice, grace and compassion, bringing honor to Your Name and Your blessing to humankind. Amen

Sen. Lieberman transcript: Madam President, I thank our leader. Again, I have had many conversations about things political, which will not surprise anybody who is hearing me speak. But perhaps people will be surprised that Senator Reid and I have probably had as many conversations about matters spiritual and personal. Those conversations tie us together forever. It is my honor to welcome to the Senate Jonathan Sacks, the chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, and to thank our extraordinary Chaplain Barry Black for joining me in hosting the chief rabbi. The truth is that I knew Chief Rabbi Sacks from his writings before I knew him personally. He has written 24 books, the most recent of which was published earlier this year, called ``The Great Partnership, God, Science and the Search for Meaning.'' His writing is extremely insightful. It is broadly accessible. Perhaps paraphrasing the old commercial--and the occupant of the chair, being from New York, will remember this about Levy's Jewish Rye: ``You don't have to be Jewish to love Levy's Jewish Rye.'' Well, you don't have to be Jewish to benefit from Rabbi Sack's writing. He is the sixth incumbent of the Chief Rabbi position in the United Kingdom, having served in that position since 1991. The role was formalized in 1845. He was knighted by Her Majesty the Queen in 2005, and then on the 27th of October, 2009, was made a life peer, taking his seat in the House of Lords, where he sits on the cross benches as Baron Sacks of Aldgate in the City of London. So we welcome Rabbi Sacks not just as the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom but as a member of a fellow legislative body. He has spoken with remarkable wisdom and insight and has formed my faith in so many ways. As I heard him give the opening prayer today, I could not help but think that he stands in a proud tradition that began with those remarkable Christian reformists who left England to come more than two or three centuries ago to our shores, forming the United States of America more than two centuries ago, and in our founding documents, responding to their faith, but also creating the foundation of the liberties that succeeding generations of Americans have enjoyed and that we in this Chamber work hard to protect and strengthen every day. Again, I thank the Chair and the leader. I particularly thank Chief Rabbi Sacks for honoring us with his presence and his words today.