Rabbi Carole Meyers, Temple Sinai of Glendale, California, Nov. 8, 2001, House prayer

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Rabbi Carole Meyers, Temple Sinai of Glendale, California, Nov. 8, 2001, House prayer

Rabbi transcript: I am honored to be here this morning with you courageous leaders of our country to join together in prayer. It takes courage to pray meaningfully in the wake of events shaping our lives. It is not that we do not turn to God, we do. We come with our praise and with our entreaties, but we strain to hear an answer, to sense God’s presence radiating back to us, over the abyss that grief and fear have created. Shall we this morning, just for a moment, stop speaking to God, asking God, about God, entreating God, and instead make an effort to find once again that experience of God’s presence that grounds our faith. Come with me to that place. Perhaps it was when you witnessed the birth of your child, new life so precious and pure, perhaps when you saw your soul reflected back at you in the eyes of someone whose love was infinite. Perhaps in the tangle of pain and darkness when somehow there was a presence to call, to let you know you would move forward. Perhaps when a piece of music shook you to your core, bringing an exquisite awareness of the depth of human experience. Perhaps when you truly saw the miracle of nature surrounding us, the sun rising and setting, day after day of nature in its magnificent order, there was a moment when you knew that another exists before whom we stand in awe and whose greatness we strive to reflect in the actions of our lives. Eternal God, be with us as we move through this time of uncertainty. Help us know that we can lend Your presence and use our lives to reflect it. Then we will have the faith to bring light and joy, peace and comfort, justice and goodness to this magnificent world God has created. Amen.

Rep. Schiff remarks: Mr. Speaker, I would like to join in welcoming today's distinguished guest chaplain, Rabbi Carole Meyers, and thank her for leading the House in prayer. As Rabbi Emerita of Temple Sinai in Glendale, California, Rabbi Meyers has distinguished herself as a community leader. Over the past 15 years, Rabbi Meyers has served at Glendale's Temple Sinai, one of the most thriving synagogues in the area. During her tenure at Temple Sinai, the congregation nearly doubled in size, boosting its education programs for both children and adults. Rabbi Meyers significantly raised the profile of the temple through her extensive community involvement. Over the past few years, Rabbi Meyers has been involved with Habitat for Humanity and the Glendale Community Foundation. She served on the Mayor's Task Force on Hate Crimes, helping to craft a citywide response plan to hate crimes. Rabbi Meyers also trained as a chaplain for the Glendale Police Department and helped to create an annual AIDS Awareness Prayer Service with other Glendale religious leaders. Though Rabbi Meyers retired this past June in order to devote more time to her family, her influence on her community can still be felt. Today, especially in this time of national tragedy, the warmth of her words have indeed found a new meaning. We are all proud to welcome Rabbi Meyers here today as a guest chaplain.