The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg

Beth Tfiloh Congregation
Baltimore, MD

Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Benjamin Cardin, (D-MD)
Date of Prayer: 07/17/2001

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I feel privileged to know Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg. Since 1978, he has been the spiritual leader of Beth Tfiloh congregation, the largest Orthodox Jewish congregation in Baltimore, the congregation of which I am a member.

Let me tell the Members a little bit about Rabbi Wohlberg. I have known Rabbi Wohlberg for many years and have often sought his guidance and counsel. He is a spellbinding speaker, and is famous for his thoughtful sermons that are able to clarify complicated issues.

Rabbi Wohlberg is also known for his involvement in the Jewish communal life. He has been a board member at The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore; a member of the executive committee of the Rabinnical Council of America, and is a recipient of the humanitarian award for the Louis Z. Brandeis District of the ZOA.

He comes from a committed and unique family where his father (of blessed memory) was and his two brothers were and also are Rabbis, all ordained by the Yeshiva University. Rabbi Wohlberg is a driving force behind the Beth Tfiloh School, an outstanding Jewish day school in Baltimore.

I know all my colleagues will join me in thanking Rabbi Wohlberg for offering this morning's opening prayer.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

I come from a tradition where Tuesdays are considered most propitious: weddings, moving to a new home, good things are to take place on Tuesday.

It goes all the way back to the first week of creation, where we note that, unlike other days of that first week, on the second day, on Monday, the Bible does not tell us "and God saw that it was good," while on the next day, the first Tuesday, two times it says, "and God saw that it was good."

According to the Talmud, this is because on the second day of the week the waters were parted. That symbolizes the division. That is no good. On the first Tuesday, the third day of the week, the waters were brought together again, and that symbolizes unity, and that is doubly good.

In this spirit, we pray: Almighty God, may a unity of purpose bring together all the esteemed Members of the United States House of Representatives. Let all its Members realize that we can disagree without being disagreeable, that we can walk shoulder to shoulder without seeing eye to eye on every subject.

Together let us pray for the day which will witness the prophetic dream of a world in which none shall hurt, none shall destroy, for the Earth will be filled with the knowledge of Thee as the waters cover the sea.

And let us say Amen.

To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory