[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S5633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest Chaplain, Rabbi Moshe Feller, Upper Midwest Chabad 
Lubavitch, offered the following prayer:
  Almighty God and God of our fathers, sovereign Ruler of the universe 
and all mankind, tomorrow we mark Your biblical holiday--the Festival 
of Weeks. On this day 3,311 years ago, You descended on Mount Sinai and 
gave the Ten Commandments amidst ``thunder and lightning and the 
powerful sound of the ram's horn.''
  Before issuing Your Commandments, the most crucial of which are: Thou 
shalt not commit murder; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not 
steal, You awesomely declared, ``I am God, your God.'' You declared so 
because, in Your infinite wisdom, You knew that only by constantly 
focusing on Your sovereignty could humans control their negative 
impulses.
  Almighty God, this august institution, the Senate of the United 
States of America, responds daily to Your declaration at Sinai by 
opening their convocations in this historic and noble Chamber with the 
recognition of Your sovereign presence and by publicly offering prayers 
to You.
  Reward this sacred practice by granting the Senators good health, 
good cheer, good fellowship, long life, and abundant wisdom. May this 
wise and sacred practice be an inspiration to all convocations and 
assemblies which are convened daily throughout our blessed country and 
throughout the world to do likewise, in light of today's event in the 
school in Georgia, especially in the Nation's public schools, so that 
mortality, safety, tranquility, and happiness prevail throughout our 
country and throughout the world. Amen.

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