Rabbi Joshua Davidson
Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester
Chappaqua, NY
Sponsor: Rep. John Hall, (D-NY)
Date of Prayer: 06/16/2010
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. HALL of New York. I am pleased to welcome Rabbi Joshua Davidson, Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth El in Northern Westchester, New York, as our guest chaplain in the House today. Rabbi Davidson is joined here today by his wife, Mia; their daughter, Mikaela; his aunt, Greer Goldman; and his in–laws, Carol and David Fram.
Rabbi Davidson is president of the Westchester Board of Rabbis. He has served Temple Beth El since 2002, and before that served at the Central Synagogue in New York City. He has a long, distinguished career, serving on the boards of many charitable organizations, interfaith coalitions, and prestigious Jewish organizations.
He served as the chair of the Central Conference of the American Rabbis' Committee on Justice, Peace, and Religious Liberties, vice chair of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism. He currently chairs the commission's task force on Israel and World Affairs. Rabbi Davidson is a member of the Hebrew Union College President's Rabbinic Council, and serves on the Clergy Advisory Board of Interfaith Impact of New York State.
House chaplains are a long, proud tradition in the House of Representatives, dating back to the time of our Founding Fathers, and Rabbi Davidson is a worthy entry into the long roll of distinguished guests.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
O God, Source of the Spirit of Living Things:
You created humanity with all its diversity in Your image and placed us upon this earth to tend it, guiding us along whichever spiritual path we call our own toward goodness and peace.
In this great hall where dreams come true, we ask your blessing upon these men and women, these Representatives of the people. They have devoted their lives to our welfare. Strengthen them with Your courage. Inspire them as they answer Isaiah's call to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, to lift up those in this land and in all lands who cannot stand on their own.
In this chamber of debate, may every debate be for the sake of justice, and may justice always be tempered with compassion. May this House be home to the hopes and aspirations of every American, and may America shine as an example to all the world.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory