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This prayer is about people standing together on the side of democracy and justice. It asks that the forces craving violence and fascism that stormed the capitol be undone and rendered powerless. It also incorporates a pledge to do one thing for healing the world, for tikkun olam. The second page also includes new lyrics to "America the Beautiful" written by Nerissa Nields.
I stand present, intending through my prayer
for the day/on the day of inaugurating
a new government, president and vice president,
to seek peace for this country,
as it is written (Jer. 29:7):
"Seek the peace of the city
where I cause you to roam
and pray for her to YHVH (Hashem/Adonai/God),
for in her peace you all will have peace."
May it be Your will, that You give a listening heart
to those whom we elevate today and protect them,
and may You raise for us a good government
that will strive and begin to bring healing, justice and peace
to all living in this land
and to all the world, and upon Jerusalem,
a government that will honor the image of God
in all humanity and in Creation,
for rulership is Yours.
Therefore may You
tear out tyranny and despotism,
ruin those who cheat and deceive,
and upend those who oppress the vulnerable.
Make the reign of the arrogant disappear from the land,
and pulverize the plans of those who attack democracy.
Deny them, make them fail, humble them,
soon in our days.
May You give to all the peoples of this country
the strength and will to pursue righteousness
and to seek peace as unified force
to uproot racism and violence from our hearts and society
to make healing, good life and peace flourish
here and throughout the world
and may I merit to do good works
and repair the world through all my efforts,
and through the act of... [add your pledge]
which I pledge to do
on behalf of all living creatures,
to uphold the covenant of Noah's waters,
Fulfill for us the verse (Ps. 90:17):
"May the pleasure of Adonai our God
be upon us, and establish
the work of our hands for us,
and make the work of our hands endure."
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Based on the 2020 voting prayer.
* YHVH and Adonai are Hebrew names for God.
The first is usually translated as "The Lord" and is the source of the name "Jehovah", but it is actually derived from the verb "to be". It means something like "Source of Being". The second means "my Lord", and is the word we traditionally say when we read YHVH, which is considered too holy to pronounce. But Adonai is also a name of God in its own right.
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"A listening heart" or lev shomei'a is what Solomon asks God for when he becomes king of Israel.
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