Dear Community,
On this Shabbat and Fourth of July Holiday, let’s explore the relationship between the Jewish people and their government, at least as expressed in prayer.
Thomas Jefferson is credited with the phrase a “separation between Church and State when he famously wrote in 1802 :
[...R]eligion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.
Of course, Jefferson was concerned with state-sanctioned religion, not abolishing all talk of religion from the government and while one's choice of worship was to remain a private affair, that isn't to say that “man” and “his God” haven’t shown up from time to time in U.S. government matters since. Jumping ahead to 1973, perhaps borrowing from our own Irving Berlin, President Richard Nixon famously ended a speech with “God bless America and God bless each and every one of you.” Then, after Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter served in office, the ritual of closing presidential speeches with a prayer once again returned with President Ronald Reagan. From Reagan on, the theological “seal” to a presidential talk became a standard part of American culture. If you want, you can read more about that here.
While in Modern America the government may be praying for all of us, the Jewish people have long included their local government in their own blessings. In Jeremiah (29:7): And seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you and pray to Hashem on its behalf; for in its prosperity you shall prosper. In Pirke Avot (3:2) Rabbi Chanina teaches: Pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for the fear of it, human kind would swallow each other alive. There are Jewish prayers in siddurim/prayerbooks dating back to the 14th century praying for the land where the Jewish people were living. These prayers were considered to be so important that it was read in the vernacular of the land, not in Hebrew, and was recited before the Torah was returned to the ark.
Over the years, a traditional version of the prayer developed known by its opening words from Psalm 144: “Ha-noten teshu’ah lamelahim, May the One Who gives salvation to kings [...] bless, guard, …and exalt… [name of leader].” Was the prayer recited out of love and adoration? Knowing Jewish world history, probably not. Whatever the reason–be it fear, political appeasement, patriotism, or desire for peace– Jews have prayed for the governing body of their country.
Today, in honor of Independence Day, I would like to conclude with a modern prayer for our country written by Rabbi Ayelet Cohen:
Our God and God of our ancestors, bless this country and all who dwell within it.
Help us to experience the blessings of our lives and circumstances
To be vigilant, compassionate, and brave
Strengthen us when we are afraid
Help us to channel our anger
So that it motivates us to action
Help us to feel our fear
So that we do not become numb
Help us to be generous with others
So that we raise each other up
Help us to be humble in our fear, knowing that as vulnerable as we feel there are those at greater risk,
And that it is our holy work to stand with them
Help us to taste the sweetness of liberty
To not take for granted the freedoms won in generations past or in recent days
To heal and nourish our democracy, that it may be like a tree planted by the water whose roots reach down to the stream
It need not fear drought when it comes, its leaves are always green
Source of all Life,
Guide our leaders with righteousness
Strengthen their hearts but keep them from hardening
That they may use their influence and authority to speak truth and act for justice
May all who dwell in this country share in its bounty, enjoy its freedoms and be protected by its laws
May this nation use its power and wealth to be a voice for justice, peace and equality for all who dwell on earth
May we be strong and have courage
To be bold in our action and deep in our compassion
To discern when we must listen and when we must act
To uproot bigotry, intolerance, misogyny, racism, discrimination and violence in all its forms
To celebrate the many faces of God reflected in the wondrous diversity of humanity
To welcome the stranger and the immigrant and to honor the gifts of those who seek refuge and possibility here,
As they have since before this nation was born
Let justice well up like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
And let us say, Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Janine Jankovitz
