The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Rabbi Gil Steinlauf

Adas Israel
Washington, DC

Sponsor: Rep. Henry Waxman, (D-CA)
Date of Prayer: 01/27/2010

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to welcome Rabbi Gil Steinlauf of Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC, as our guest chaplain today.

When I was first elected to Congress and our family moved to Washington, we joined Adas Israel Congregation in Cleveland Park in the Washington, DC, area. Adas Israel is the largest conservative synagogue in our Nation's capital and one of its oldest. It also has a reputation for outreach to young families and Washington, DC, transplants. We have been members for more than 30 years.

Rabbi Steinlauf came to Adas Israel in August 2008 to serve as its senior rabbi . He quickly made his mark as a charismatic, energetic, and dynamic spiritual leader. It has been a great pleasure to get to know him and his family.

Originally from Jericho, New York, Rabbi Steinlauf was ordained in 1998 at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. He graduated from Princeton in 1991 with honors, and also studied at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem and the University of Judaism, now known as the American Jewish University, which is located in my district in Los Angeles.

Rabbi Steinlauf is joined this morning by his wife, Rabbi Batya Steinlauf , and his children Elana, Noah, and Meirav, his parents Bernard and Sandra, some of his extended family, and a proud delegation of Adas Israel.

Thank you, Rabbi Steinlauf , for your inspirational words.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Our God and God of all of our ancestors, we ask that the light of your Presence guide the hearts and minds of the leaders of this great nation gathered here today.

May the wisdom of Your teachings guide them to act for justice, and to lift up the cause of the stranger, the orphan and the widow.

Master of the Universe, open the hearts of our leaders with Your compassion.

Help them to lead with integrity, always remembering that Your Wisdom resides in every heart as the deepest Truth of our humanity.

May our leaders always remember that Your guidance is not in the Heavens alone, nor far beyond the sea, but within each of us – in our mouths and in our hearts to carry into action in the world.

May our leaders therefore serve as beacons of justice and compassion, making this country a light to the nations. Amen.

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