Sen. Chris Coons on Rabbi Michael Beals, Congregation Beth Shalom, Wilmington, DE, May 23, 2013

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

Full video of Rabbi Michael Beals prayer here

“Thank you Leader Reid, and thank you for the opportunity to briefly recognize and celebrate this morning’s Chaplain. Rabbi Michael Beals has served our community in Wilmington, Delaware, and our country admirably, and with a strength of faith and foundation that you heard in this morning’s prayer. He is joined by his wife, Elissa, a caring veterinarian, his daughter, Ariella, whose Bat Mitzvah was just celebrated, and his daughter, Shira, and many, many other family and friends. He has a wonderful and accomplished education, being ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, also having studied at the American University, the University of California – Berkeley, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In addition to his remarkable education, he is someone who is profoundly grounded in the calling — in the challenge — of rebuilding. As you heard in his reflection — his prayer — this morning, he is someone who cares deeply for the widow; the orphan; the stranger, and is true to the Biblical calling of us to be witnesses to our communities wherever we might be found. I am grateful to the chance to add his voice to the many who have brought this Senate into session, year in, year out, over the centuries, and I’m grateful for his friendship and his leadership in my hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.”