A Prayer in Congress: Remembering War, Praying for Peace

The United States Congress opens almost every session — in both the House and Senate — with a prayer.

Each chamber has an official chaplain, but for a number of reasons, including the effort to ensure the nation has no one “established religion,” guest chaplains often offer prayers representing the religious diversity of America. In addition to Christian leaders, prayers have been offered that represent Judaism, Islam, Buddhism (including one by the Dalai Lama), Hinduism, and Native American faiths. Two times Chief Rabbis of Israel have offered the prayer, among other foreign dignitaries.

In the House, 23 marble relief portraits adorn the chamber walls: past lawgivers who have laid the foundation for US dreams of liberty and law. When chaplains stand to give their prayer, just below the Speaker’s seat, they look straight ahead to the face of Moses. Among the other 22, Maimonides is included, as well.

Today I was honored to offer the prayer to a pro-forma session of the House. Words offered there in prayer are often widely shared, and I hope that will be the case for mine, and some who read the words or hear them through the video can add “amen.” The prayers do become part of US historical documents, as well, because they are included in the Congressional Record.

In my prayer, I try to acknowledge the reality of war — especially because I delivered it on the same date (back in 1996) that Osama bin Laden first declared war on Americans (and of course, Israel, as well). But I offered thanks for progress as well, both in deeds and words. I was especially proud to share the powerful images from the Tanakh that were shared in an August past by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, not far from the Capitol in which I recalled — and I hope, reaffirmed — his dreams.

As a retired Jewish chaplain in the US Navy — inspired to become a rabbi and a chaplain by a Christian Navy chaplain in the rivers of Vietnam more than fifty years ago — I know that we in America must navigate the course with great care respecting our vision of separation of church and state. But two core traditions linked to faith in its broadest sense, as opposed to any one established faith, have endured: the military chaplaincy, to ensure that no matter where our military personnel may be sent, they never lose the opportunity for the voluntary free exercise of religion (emphasis on voluntary)…and the tradition in the US Congress, to take time to reflect through prayer (or for those who do not believe in prayer per se, through reflection on the words they hear) on our nation’s highest dreams — before our legislators roll up their sleeves and start their work. These traditions have faced legal challenges now and then, but have been affirmed by courts, so long as care is shown. Prayers that recognize the diversity of American faiths are an important part of those traditions.

I should add that there are rules for chaplain prayers in congress. In addition to a limit on their length, no introduction is allowed (the hardest rule for me to follow, as a rabbi who loves to use stories to illustrate a point), and no non-English language is allowed — the reason no Hebrew is included in my prayers. Prayers must be understood by the representatives without a need for translation. (Early chaplains did not have this rule, so there are historic records of Hebrew verses in the records!)

I am proud to share the prayer I offered today — August 23, 2024 — as the U.S. counts down the days to our presidential elections. 75 days to go.

Marble relief portrait of Moses in the House of Representatives. One of 23 past “lawgivers,” his is the only one that shows a full face. The others appear as profiles

Almighty God,
August recalls war:
Guns of August – WWI,
Atomic bombs of August – WWII,
And on this day, 1996,
Bin Laden declares war.

Terror, war, still rage.
We pray for casualties to cease, hostages set free —
In a world itself held hostage to hatred, fear, and grief.

But August recalls progress, too.
Two anniversaries next week:
19th amendment, women’s right to vote:
Human rights becoming legal rights,
Enshrining liberty in law.
And stirring words of Dr. King touched our nation’s soul:
“I have a dream” – that we’ll be free at last.

75 days until our nation votes,
Embracing sometimes hard-won rights,
keeping faith with prayers and dreams of better times:
That justice rolls like mighty waters,
Righteousness, a never-ending stream;
When freedom rings from every mountainside,
and war will be no more.

Then, with new meaning, spirit, united we’ll proclaim:
My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.

And may we say, Amen.