Praying for the Welfare of the Government

Rabbi Jonathan Muskat (facebook, December 2016)

I don't think I fully processed the impact of President Obama's betrayal of the State of Israel by not vetoing the anti-Israel UN resolution until last Saturday night. Upon reflection and after being utterly disgusted by Secretary of State John Kerry's rebuke of Israel yesterday, I don't see how I can recite a prayer that explicitly blesses President Obama anymore in shul. At the same time, I am aware of the danger of not reciting a prayer for the government when you don't like the government's policies. Where do you draw the line? Honest and vigorous political debate is good, but not when it is time to pray. We all pray together, Republicans and Democrats alike, in a spirit of unity. It is important that we have a fixed prayer expressing our gratitude that we live in a medina shel chesed like the United States. As such, from now on, at the Young Israel of Oceanside we will recite the modified prayer for the government below which blesses not the leaders of our government, but blesses the United States and its citizens and asks God to place in the hearts of our leaders compassion to do good with us and with all of Israel. May all of our prayers be answered speedily in our days.

הנותן תשועה למלכים וממשלה לנסיכים, מלכותו מלכות כל העולמים, הפוצה את דוד עבדו מחרב רעה, הנותן בים דרך ובמים עזים נתיבה, הוא יברך את ארצות הברית ואת אזרחיה. מלך מלכי המלכים ברחמיו יחיים וישמרם, ומכל צרה ויגון ונזק יצילם, ויתן בלב כל שרי המדינות האלו ובלב כל יועציהם ושריהם לעשות טובות עמנו ועם כל ישראל אחינו. בימיהם ובימינו תיוושע יהודה וישראל ישכון לבטח, ובא לציון גואל, וכן יהי רצון ונאמר אמן.

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz (facebook, January 2017)

Becuase of my commitment to the integrity of prayer, starting this week, I can no longer recite or say amen to the Shabbat prayer for the success of the US President.

So I have drafted a new prayer that I will plan to recite each Shabbat morning. If you also feel it's important to pray for the US government but also feel you cannot pray for the success of this President, feel free to adapt it as you please. I felt that it is not enough to simply avoid the US President in the prayer for the government but to remind myself of the billions of vulnerable people who are at risk under his rule, and challenge myself each Shabbat to build up the strength for another week of spiritual resistance.

O God and God of our Ancestors, help us with our struggle. We yearn for the success of the American government, to fulfill its righteous mandate to protect its citizens from threats internal and foreign, to fortify the bonds between liberty and justice, to ordain fair treatment under the law, and to expand welfare to all those within its capacity.

We pray that the vision of the prophets—the redemptive power of justice; relief for the poor, welcome for the marginal, protection for the oppressed, care for the sick—and the vision of the Constitution of a more perfect union be brought about. Guide the incoming leader of this country away from his basest instincts, thwart his plans to target certain groups and strengthen white supremacy; for You know, God, that all were created in Your image.

We pray that the decrees from the Executive office do not harm the innocent. We pray that any policies that are meant to harm the vulnerable in prioritization of the powerful and privileged will be quashed. Should there be plans that will merely benefit the most privileged Americans, but not all of humankind and the planet we call home, may they fail. May our nation not consort or conspire with totalitarian despots but reaffirm our commitment to freedom and democracy. Grant us the strength to demonstrate spiritual resistance, to imbue our sinews with the highest integrity. Give us the wisdom and courage to do what’s right to protect the most powerless and defenseless in society.

May agents of hate who stray from Your holy vision of love and justice, found within and outside our country, be averted. May all of Your creations be handled mercifully. May all to whom You have given the sanctity of life awaken and fulfill their calling to bring love, justice, and kindness to all corners of Your world.

May Your land, and our government, strive to be a blessing for all. Amen."

Apocrypha: Baruch Chapter 1

9 After that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and the captives, and the mighty men, and the people of the land, from Jerusalem, and brought them unto Babylon.

10 And they said, Behold, we have sent you money to buy you burnt offerings, and sin offerings, and incense, and prepare ye manna, and offer upon the altar of the Lord our God;

11 And pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven:

12 And the Lord will give us strength, and lighten our eyes, and we shall live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and we shall serve them many days, and find favour in their sight.

Rabbi Ezekiel ben Judah Landau (1713-1793 Opataw, Poland). The above quote is from his introduction to Tzelah, called Hitnatzlut HaMehaber

It is already known and well published in all places where I have been that I warn and remonstrate in most of the Torah expositions that I proffer publicly that we be extremely careful of the honour of the nations of our time, in whose lands and states we find sanctuary. And we are required [hayavim] to pray for the peace of the kings, the officers, and their soldiers and to pray for the sake of the state and its inhabitants. And God forbid that we be ungrateful since they are good to us and they grant us life and a remnant in the land.

Rabbi Max Lilienthal, Ribon Kol Ha-Olamim: 1846, translated by Professor Jonathan Sarna

Master of Universe. Lord of all Works. Who extends peace like a river, and like a rapid stream the glory of nations. Look down from Your holy dwelling and bless this land, the United State, whereon we dwell. Let not violence be heard in their land, wasting and destruction within their boundaries, but You shall call its walls "Salvation" and its gates "Praise." Grant them rains in due season so that the earth shall yield her products and the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and grant peace, goodness and a blessing on all the inhabitants of the land, that they may lie down with none to make them afraid. And among the nations shall their need be known and their offspring in the midst of the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, for You hath blessed them. Amen.

Pour down the bounty of Your goodness upon the President, and the Vice President of the United States, that their prosperity be like the river, their triumph like the waves of the sea. In their days may kindness and truth meet together, righteousness and peace kiss one another. Great shall be their honor; through You help and in your strength they will greatly exult. Amen. Ordain blessings also upon the Governor and the lieutenant Governor of the state and the Mayor and lieutenant Governor of the state and the Mayor and the Common Council of this City. Teach them the good way wherein they should walk so as to judge the entire people rightly, the entire nation justly, and all will see it and delight themselves from the abundance of peace. Amen.

Send Your salvation also to the City of New York and all its inhabitants. Spread over them the canopy of Your peace and remove from them every ailment and affliction. Gladness and joy shall they obtain, and sorrow and sighting shall flee away. Amen. Our good Father, also answer us Your people the house of Israel at a favorable time, and be of assistance each and every day. Guide us continually in your great goodness and satisfy our soul in times of famine. And we shall be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters do not fail, and go from strength to strength until the redeemer shall come unto Zion. O that this may be His will, and let us say Amen.