Benediction for Inauguration of Governor Wes Moore

Dear God –

Today we celebrate. Tomorrow we begin to go to work, to do the work of governing, to do the hard work of making tough decisions. to do the work of serving the people of the great state of Maryland.

But today, today we celebrate – For it is the DAWN of a new day and of a new era.

So let us pause in grateful prayer to take in, to appreciate and to revel in the glory of this magnificent day. As the Psalmist proclaimed about just such an occasion: Zeh Hayom Asah Adonai – This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad!

We rejoice and are glad, for we are grateful O God to You for sending us Wes Moore and Aruna Miller – to lead and guide us.

We are grateful O God for the grace, goodness, and kindness that has been stirred and awakened in all corners of our state by the inspiring campaign Wes Moore conducted.

We are grateful O God for the vision and positive, empowering message that Wes Moore has articulated. He has touched, moved and uplifted all segments of the citizens of this great state and shown us that when we are united, and imbued with a sense of purpose, together we can and will achieve great things.

The sages of the Talmud over 2,000 years ago offered an insight and words of wisdom we can take to heart. They used to say:

I am a creature of God and my neighbor is a creature of God.
I work in the city and he works in the country.
I rise early for work and he rises early for work.
He cannot perform my work, and I cannot perform his work.
Lest one think that I do great things and he does small things, or that I am better than he, It has been taught – it does not matter whether a person does much or little, as long as he directs his heart to heaven.

So let us direct our hearts to heaven:
We pray, that Governor Moore and Lt. Governor Miller will be guided by the noble principles and virtues, the hopes, dreams, lofty ideals and high expectations that carried them to this office and this moment.

In that spirit, we pray – May they always remember why they aspired to seek office and to serve the people. So that when it is time to begin to work, they will remember why we celebrate today and what we celebrate.

When there are difficult or challenging days, as there inevitably will be,
May they remember the teaching of the Book of Psalms, which Dr. King used to love to quote: “His anger lasts but for a moment. His love is for a lifetime. Tears may linger for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Dear God, Do not let their ideals become tarnished. When they are weary, give them strength. When they are discouraged, do not let them despair. Send them encouragement. Should they encounter disappointment, send them hope.

We ask for their well-being.
We ask blessing for them and their families.
Watch over and protect them.
May you be with them, and may they be with You.
For as the prophet Micah taught: What is required of you? Only to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God.

Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt
Congregation B’nai Tzedek Potomac,MD
potomacrebbe@bnaitzedek.org