Thanks to the suggestion of our congregant, State Senator Bette Lasky, I was invited to be one of four clergy members offering prayers at the inauguration today of New Hampshire's new governor, Maggie Hassan. I was honored to be included, to take part in special moment in our democracy, and to represent the Jewish faith and community. After the ceremony, a non-Jewish person asked me if I would share my words. So here is the "blessing of thanksgiving and peace" that I composed and offered just before Gov. Hassan took the oath of office.
Holy One
Life of the Universe, Who
gives us life
Merciful One, Who weaves all
of us together in love
Known by many names, or none
We thank You for this
gathering of freedom and peace.
Each person in this state is a migrant from tyranny, be it four hundred
years ago in family memory, or in person just last year. Just to sit here, sisters and brothers,
citizens and those who govern us, is a miracle that so few like us have known
in the whole history of humanity.
Let us be thankful today, for
two things unusual and one more obvious, that bless us through those taking
solemn oaths today.
Let us be thankful for
ambition. It is said in the Talmud
that one day, the people captured desire and envy and threw them into a cage —
but that day no work was done, no egg was laid, no child conceived. Thank you, our leaders, for your
powerful ambition, which has driven you to campaign and lead, and will push you to
succeed. May you always tie those
ambitions to your visions, and to the true needs of all our citizens.
Let us be thankful for
opponents. In Hebrew, the word for
gratitude is the same as the word for conceding to a better argument, and it is
said in the Jewish tradition that a wise person should be a lover of
rebuke. May the fire of your
opponents' passion not boil you in frustration, but rather rekindle your own passion. May those who vie with you, around
meeting tables covered with numbers or in speeches in this chamber, sharpen
you. May you from time to time
find through your opponents sparks of truth that only others carry.
I know you are thankful for
the opportunity to serve our state and its people, as we are thankful to you.
New Hampshire is a state full of civic service, but here, uniquely, it is your
duty to serve all of us at once, every day.
This is a large responsibility, but may it enlarge you — may it lead
you to be even more than you are now, on the verge of these oaths. May your path of service stir within
you unknown stores of wisdom and creativity against the most complex problems we
face.
For our new governor, Maggie Hassan; for our leaders new and returning; and for this gathering of peaceful
community, I offer this blessing:
Baruch Atah Adonai,
Elohaynu Melech Ha-olam, Shehecheyanu V'kiy'manu V'higiyanu Lazman Hazeh — Praised are You, God, Weave of all time and space, Who
gives us life, and keeps us alive, and has brought us to this new season. Amen.
Leave a Reply