Rabbi’s invocation to the Senate sites the Noahide Laws

Rabbi Shea Harlig, Director of Chabad of Southern Nevada, delivered the invocation at this opening of the U.S. Senate. He cited the importance of the 7 Noahide Laws, and particularly the commandment for just laws, courts, and governments.

Transcript of Rabbi Harlig’s invocation:

“ALMIGHTY G-D, THE MEMBERS OF THIS PRESTIGIOUS BODY, THE UNITED STATES SENATE, CONVENE HERE IN THE SPIRIT OF ONE OF THE SEVEN NOAHIDE LAWS WHICH WERE SET FORTH BY YOU AS AN ETERNAL UNIVERSAL CODE OF ETHICS FOR ALL MANKIND: THAT EVERY SOCIETY BE GOVERNED BY JUST LAWS, BASED IN THE RECOGNITION OF YOU G-D AS THE SOVEREIGN RULER. WE PROUDLY PROCLAIM THIS COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE IN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, ONE NATION UNDER G-D WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

GRANT US, ALMIGHTY G-D, THAT THOSE ASSEMBLED HERE TODAY BE AWARE OF YOUR PRESENCE AND CONDUCT THEIR DELIBERATIONS ACCORDINGLY. BLESS THEM WITH GOOD HEALTH, WISDOM, COMPASSION AND GOOD FELLOWSHIP.

ON THIS 25TH DAY OF JUNE, 20’09, WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE THIRD DAY OF THE HEBREW MONTH OF TAMMUZ, WE ARE 15 YEARS — TO THE DAY — FROM THE PHYSICAL PASSING OF OUR ESTEEMED SPIRITUAL LEADER, THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE, RABBI MENACHEM MENDEL SCHNEERSON, OF BLESSED MEMORY, WHO CONSISTENTLY EXTOLLED THE VIRTUES OF THIS GREAT LAND AS A “NATION OF KINDNESS. ”

I BESEECH YOU, ALMIGHTY G-D, TO GRANT RENEWED STRENGTH AND FORTITUDE TO ALL WHO PROTECT, PRESERVE AND HELP FURTHER THESE IDEALS SO ESSENTIAL TO THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT. PLEASE GRANT THAT OUR BELOVED REBBE’S VISION OF A WORLD OF PEACE AND TRANQUILITY — FREE OF WAR, HATRED AND STRIFE — BE REALIZED SPEEDILY IN OUR DAYS. G-D BLESS THIS HALLOWED BODY. G-D BLESS OUR TROOPS WHO STAND IN DEFENSE OF THIS GREAT LAND. G-D BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”