HOSTAGES mention Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff Daily Congress Prayer October 22, 2024, House guest chaplain

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

"41 years ago, tomorrow;

I saw the Beirut Barracks Bombing

Take 241 US military lives.

Then another bomb: 58 French"

House Prayer, 22 Oct 2024

RABBI ARNOLD E. RESNICOFF, RETIRED NAVY CHAPLAIN, WASHINGTON, DC

If you pray, please pray with me –

If not, just pause to dream.

Almighty God,

While hostages suffer,

We remember Broadway’s Les Mis plea:

“God on High, hear my prayer,

In my need, You have always been there.

Bring him – [Bring them all] -- home.”

41 years ago, tomorrow:

I saw the Beirut Barracks Bombing

Take 241 US military lives.

They came in peace

To a war-torn land.

Like heroes through the ages,

All gave some; some gave all.

In 14 days we vote for leaders

Through life’s wilderness of tears and fears:

a nation too divided; a world that’s still at war;

So many dead that all should suffer sorrow, horror, pain.

Too easy to lose faith in dreams of better times:

Swords to plowshares. War no more. None shall live in fear.

God, bring them – those visions -- home.

Help us keep our dreams.

And may we say, Amen.