Hill Havurahdcast

Havurahdcast #28 - Ken Eisner (Navigating Interfaith Marriage, Working at Amazon)

Episode Summary

Havurah member Ken Eisner talks to Rabbi Hannah about his work as Director of Worldwide Education Programs for Amazon Web Services. The two also talk about Eisner's marriage to a devout Catholic, and how as Jew he grapples with Jesus. Rabbi Hannah also recites a powerful prayer for Election Day. (link and poem in episode notes)

Episode Notes

https://ritualwell.org/ritual/voting-prayer

Voting Prayer

By Rabbi David Mevorach Seidenberg

This prayer, originally published in 2008, is updated for the 2020 election. Download the PDF at the bottom of the page for the prayer in Hebrew, English and transliteration.

Behold, I am intending through my vote / through my prayer
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 (Adonai/God),
for in her peace you all will have peace.”
May it be Your will, YHVH, that votes be counted faithfully,
and may You count my vote as if I had fulfilled this verse
with all my power.

May You give a listening heart to whomever we elect
and may it be good in Your eyes to raise for us a good government
that will 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.

Just as I have participated / Just as I will participate in the election,
so may I merit to do good works and to 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,
in remembrance of the covenant of Noah’s waters
to protect and to not destroy the earth and her plenitude.

** Give to all the peoples of this country the strength and the will to pursue righteousness and to seek peace as a unified force to uproot racism and violence and to make healing, good life and peace flourish here and throughout the world and 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; make the work of our hands endure.”

Special paragraph for 2020 election based on Birkat Haminim, which can be added at ** before "Give to all the peoples..."

Tear out tyranny and despotism, ruin those who cheat and deceive,
upend and overthrow those who oppress the vulnerable.
Make the reign of the arrogant disappear from the land,
and pulverize the plans of those who attack democracy.
Obstruct them, humble them, and bring on their downfall, soon, in our days.