Shared by Beth El Synagogue’s Kesher daily email.
This prayer is not a prayer about winning or getting other people on your side. It’s a prayer that we learn to work together to create a better future. It incorporates a pledge to do one thing for healing the world, for tikkun olam.
Behold, I am intending through my vote to seek peace for this land and country as it is written (Jer. 29:7):
“Seek the peace of the city
where I cause you to roam
and pray for her to YHVH (Hashem/Adonai/God),
for in her peace you all will have peace.”
May it be Your will, God, that votes
be counted faithfully
and may You count my vote
as if I had fulfilled this verse
with all my power.
May You give a listening heart
to whomever we elect
and may it be good in Your eyes
to raise for us a good government
to bring healing, justice and peace
to all living in this land
and to all the world, and upon Jerusalem,
a government that will honor the image of God
in all humanity and in Creation,
for rulership is Yours.
Just as I am participating in the election
so may I merit to do good works
and to repair the world through all my efforts,
and through the act of… [fill in your pledge]
which I pledge to do
on behalf of all living creatures,
in remembrance of the covenant of Noah’s waters,
to protect and to not destroy
the earth and her plenitude.
Give to all the peoples of this land, God,
the strength and will to pursue righteousness
and to seek peace as unified force
to uproot racism and violence
and to make healing, good life and peace flourish
here and throughout the world
and fulfill for us the verse (Ps. 90:17):
“May the pleasure of Adonai our God
be upon us, and establish
the work of our hands for us,
and make the work of our hands endure.”
