Rabbi Peter Berg The Temple Atlanta Georgia Dec 12, 2023 Senate guest chaplain Daily Congress Prayer

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US Senate Invocation

December 12, 2023

Rabbi Peter S. Berg

The Temple, Atlanta GA

Eternal God, may your name be invoked only to inspire and unify our Country, but never to divide it.

We ask your blessings upon our US Senators and all who serve this body --

That today and every day they lead wisely and with civility, working together for our common good.

Tonight, Jews all around the world will light the sixth candle of Hanukkah. They will do so, in a world teaming with xenophobia and hatred. Let us never forget that this is a time of year we all bring light and hope……. to despair and darkness….

Be with us now, God. Make us strong to do Your will. Help us to understand and proclaim the truth, that not by might and not by power, but by our spirit alone can we prevail.

Let injustice and oppression cease, and hatred, cruelty, and wrong pass away…

Bless, O God, the lights of this season. May they shine their radiance into this historic chamber. They kindle within us the flame of faith and zeal, that like the Maccabees of old, we bravely battle for Your cause. May our Senators be blessed today,

to use their God-given light to chase away the darkness.

Let us resolve to do our share to hasten the day by taking a true measure of life,

by learning to face life and judge the challenges before us….. with realism, courage, and understanding.

These things we ask, in Your name, O God. Until the radiance of peace and righteousness

for all of God’s children shines to the end of the earth.

Amen.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Our

guest Chaplain, Rabbi Peter S. Berg, of

The Temple, Atlanta, GA, will offer the

opening prayer.

The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer:

Eternal God, may Your Name be invoked only to inspire and to unify our

country but never to divide it.

We ask Your blessings upon our U.S.

Senators and all who serve this body,

that today and every day, they lead

wisely and with civility, working together for our common good.

Tonight, Jews all around the world

will light the sixth candle of Hanukkah. We will do so in a world that is

teeming with xenophobia and hatred.

Let us never forget that this is a time

of year where we all bring light and

hope to despair and to darkness.

Be with us now, God. Make us strong

to do Your will. Help us to understand

and proclaim the truth that not by

might and not by power, but by our

spirit alone can all of us prevail. Let

injustice and oppression cease, hatred

and cruelty and wrong pass away.

Bless, O God, the lights of this season. May they shine their radiance in

this historic Chamber. They kindle

within us the flame of faith and of zeal

that, like the Maccabees of old, we

bravely battle for Your cause.

May our Senators be blessed today to

use their God-given light to chase away

the darkness. Let us resolve to do our

share to hasten the day by taking a

true measure of life, by learning to face

life, to judge the challenges that are

set before us with realism, with courage, and with understanding.

These things we ask in Your Name, O

God, until the radiance of peace and

righteousness for all of God’s children

shines to the ends of the Earth. Amen.

Senator Warnock remarks here

Senator Ossoff remarks here