On Memorial Day, Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

Every Shabbat in our synagogue, following the reading of the Torah portion, we say "A Prayer for Our Country." A member of the congregation -- each week it's a different member -- comes to the bimah and recites the following prayer:

Our God and God of our ancestors: We ask Your blessings for our country -- for its government, for its leaders and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful authority. Teach them insights from Your Torah, that they may administer all affairs of state fairly, that peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom may forever abide in our midst.

Creater of all flesh, bless all the inhabitants of our country with Your spirit. May citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond in true harmony, to banish hatred and bigotry, and to safeguard the ideals and free institutions that are the pride and glory of our country.

May this land, under Your providence, be an influence for good throughout the world, uniting all people in peace and freedom -- helping them to fulfill the vision of Your prophet: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they experience war any more" (Isaiah 2:4). And let us say: Amen.

There is an important phrase in this prayer: "for its government, for its leaders and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful authority." Recognizing there are those in the government who exceed their authority and abuse their power, we do not want to condone that behavior, and certainly, we don't want God's blessings to come to them. This is especially true regarding those in governmental agencies who operate in secrecy, taking advantage of the darkness to violate the laws and Constitution of the United States. Thus, this prayer is not a carte blanche to all those in government to act however they want; this prayer emphasizes they must follow all the laws and regulations that insure that they "exercise just and rightful authority."

This past Shabbat, in honor of Memorial Day, our rabbi added an appropriate choreographic element to this prayer. Before the recitation, he asked that all the veterans in our congregation come up to the bimah and face the congregation. About twenty members, among them veterans of the Gulf War, Vietnam War, Korean War, and even World War II, then strode to the forefront of the synagogue and stood solemnly while we recited the prayer. Thus, we noted and acknowledged all those who served our country, and gave credit to all those who were willing to sacrifice life and limb to protect our freedoms and liberties.