Below is the text of my invocation. However, the most amazing thing is how excited and tickled the Muslims, Christians, even Native Americans, are at having a Jewish mayor. I think to everyone it means that anyone, regardless of color, ethnicity or religion, can make it in America and Chicago.
Honorable mayor , City clerk , City treasurer, new and returning members of the City Council,
As you enter on this new journey together, I bless you with the “Traveler’s Prayer”:
May it be Your will, God, that you guide us toward peace and let us to reach our desired destination for life, joy and unity. Rescue us from the hand of every foe, every challenge along the way, and all afflictions that may trouble our city. Send blessing in our work and let us find grace, kindness and compassion from You and from all who see us take on the sacred task of making our city work.
As we begin this new era in the history of our city, the blessing of renewal:
Baruch ata ado-nay elo-heinu Melech ha’olam, shehechiyan, vekiymanu, vehigiyanu lazman hazeh,
Blessed are you God, who has given us life, strengthened us and brought us to this wonderful moment!
And let us say, Amen.
Rabbi Asher Lopatin, May 18,2011
Guest Post
Hyim Shafner
Yosef Kanefsky
Rachel Kohl Finegold
Barry Gelman
Did you actually say the berakha with Shem uMalkhut?
So touching! Just the right things to say as usual. Yasher koach, Rav Asher!