Prayer is good. I am not describing to whom it should be offered, or even if it is important that it be offered to some external being at all. I am not touching the issue of in whose name such prayers should be offered when they are shared in public at events like the National Day of Prayer, even though I truly don’t care. In fact, I have already written about why public prayer in Jesus’ name is no big deal.
But to be human is to have aspirations, to feel gratitude and to feel the need to praise the source of that which we have achieved and attained. And aspirations, gratitude and praise are the building blocks of prayer – certainly in Jewish tradition, and in pretty much every other tradition of which I know. So, prayer is good.
A National Day of Prayer is also good. No, I do not worry about issues of Constitutionality and neither has any President since the day was established in 1952. Nor do I worry about secular humanists, atheists or agnostics who object to the Day. In fact, I encourage all people, including them, to cultivate a prayer practice which accords with their beliefs and disbeliefs. And I know how much I have learned about prayer from those who are willing to give up on God while maintaining a practice which acknowledges aspiration, gratitude and praise i.e. prayer.
President Obama’s words in closing his National Day of Prayer proclamation provide and enlightening and instructive example of the kind of genuinely open and inclusive approach to prayer which I support.
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2010, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon the citizens of our Nation to pray, or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God’s continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us.
So what bothers me? That our National Day of Prayer is too much a project of too homogenous a group of people who pray. From the website of the coordinators (www.nationaldayofprayer.org) to the official book which commemorates the day, to the national chairmanship of Rev. Franklin Graham, a day which should be lead in common is instead lead by a narrowly defined group of Christians.
To their credit, they are the ones who have taken the lead in championing the value of prayer. They are the ones who have unambiguously supported prayer as a public good deserving of national recognition. But they are also the ones whose celebratory book for this year’s event trumpets only the contributions of Evangelical Christians. They are the ones who declare:
“When unbelievers pray for repentance of sin and ask for God’s forgiveness, prayer is the spiritual dynamite that obliterates the darkness and despair of a sin-soaked soul. May we ask His forgiveness, turn our backs on tolerance of sin, and bow in submission to God and seek His redemption for our people, so that future generations will know His blessed Hand has not been removed. May God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, be once again exalted in our halls of government, in our sanctuaries of worship and in human hearts that need His healing touch. Join me in prayer for America on May 6 for the National Day of Prayer.”
Those are the words of National Day of Prayer Chairman Graham, and while they may be appropriate for Church, they are hurtful and totally inappropriate for the day. Why? Not because they are Christian words. What else should a Christian pray? And not because they are offered in Jesus’ name – how else could Rev. Graham pray with integrity?
They are hurtful and inappropriate because those words ask that all those who do not share Rev. Graham’s faith, get fixed – that our “sin-soaked souls” be “obliterated”. While people are free to believe what they want, and offer any prayer they feel, nobody has the right to publically denigrate other peoples’ religious beliefs, especially with violent language.
As much as those who oppose the National Day of Prayer need to settle down and consider how to open their hearts at least to those who pray, if not to prayer itself, the leadership of the National Day of Prayer need to open their hearts to the dignity of different faiths and those with no faith at all. If they cannot, then the day should be re-named the National Day of Religious Triumphalism, a day about which all people should be concerned.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
posted May 5, 2010 at 6:26 pm
So, you’re OK with a national day of prayer, as long as you’re included?
You don’t like it when people imply you’re spiritually inferior?
Welcome to my world, hypocrite.
posted May 5, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Triumphalism is the sole basis for instituting and perpetuating a “National Day of Prayer.” To pretend otherwise is deluding ourselves. It was set up as a way to establish that “real Americans” are God-fearing Christians, of a certain stripe. Do you honestly believe that this was ever about a generic support for the virtue of praying to one’s own god in one’s own manner? People who believe in that sort of thing don’t need any reminder from the government to do so, and the government has no business trying to sell the idea to those who don’t believe in it. The sort of Christians who agitate for this sort of thing are as interested in religious freedom and civic virtue as the Taliban. The Jews who support it are mistaking scraps for a seat at the table…
posted May 6, 2010 at 2:22 am
There should be a policy that people who are allowed to voice their opinions on the Day of Prayer actually show they’ve read Judge Crabb’s opinion. The Day of Prayer is clearly unconstitutional.
Nothing fails like prayer. A family thought prayers would save their daughter from diabetes and didn’t take her to the doctor, that girl is now dead. People should just admit prayer is talking to yourself.
posted May 6, 2010 at 1:11 pm
As you note, there’s nothing wrong with encouraging prayer as long as it’s done in a neutral fashion. As described by you (and others), there is nothing neutral in what Rev. Graham had to say.
In addition, you seem to have missed commenting on a far larger issue raised by Rev. Graham’s remarks–”May God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, be once again exalted in our halls of government”. I think that Thomas Jefferson and James Madison must have spun in their graves at the thought of this establishment of religion. Perhaps Rev. Graham should read George Washington’s letter to the synagogue in Rhode Island.
posted May 6, 2010 at 2:02 pm
So all prayer is good, irrespective of whether that prayer is offered to G-d or to a false god, eh?
I know you immodestly call your blog the culmination of “3,000 years of Jewish wisdom”, but you appear insufficiently steeped in that Sinaitic tradition even to discern that your blog entry directly abrogated the First Commandment.
At this point you may want to reconsider proclaiming your postings as the total conclusion of Jewish thought. And, maybe “rabbi” is a little too strong and heavy a title for the kind of unschooled secular humanism you’re advocating here?
posted May 6, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Rabbi,
Thanks so much for this article and for your comments on the Dennis Miller radio show today! I’m a college professor in religion, with a PhD in theology, and a Catholic. You are so right about “Catholic” meaning “all encompassing” — except that when you said that the Church would take issue with that, you are mistaken. That is actually Catholic teaching. It stands to reason that if God created all of us, then all of us have access to God and are equally loved by God. That divine spark is clearly evident in you! God bless you.
Jennifer, Milwaukee
posted May 7, 2010 at 10:52 am
B”H
Our Founding Fathers were well-versed in the “Old Testament” and I believe they had unshakeable faith in G-d, but at the same time, they recognized that non-Christians had the same rights by authority of the Constitution, as the Christian majority.
While I believe that a lack of belief in G-d has caused this country much grief, which has led to the actual decline in our power as a nation, I am against the establishment of Christianity as the “official” religion of the State. Jews also believe in G-d, and certainly we have shed much blood to maintain our total belief in the Creator.
I think our President signed this bill only because many Americans regretted voting for him; they believe he has a socialist/left wing agenda as well as sympathy for radical Islam, which scares them. It is a political point-scoring move to reassure middle-class America that he’s not who they think he is.
I fully respect Christians who belive in their faith; I believe it is essential for the moral character of America. However, as a Jew who believes in G-d, I believe I have the right to be respected for my faith as well, even though I’m not in the majority. In public school, we were forced to say the “L-rd’s Prayer,” and I was not permitted to wear a hat in the building, even though my faith dictates the wearing of a head covering at all times, as well as not permitting non-Jewish prayer…
posted May 7, 2010 at 11:24 am
We are not just a christian nation. This nation is a melting pot. Praying is ok but be inclusive of all.
posted May 7, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Amazing how Jews include all as God’s Children, but non-Christians are condemned! I was told by authorities in the Catholic Faith, if they (non-Christians) did not accept Jesus at some point before their death they were condemned. So, how can I tolerate “public prayer: that does not speak to God, but to Jesus. If there could be a prayer day that included all, I would not object, though even then, I feel sympathy for the silent atheists and secular humanists. I say this because I have known some people did not believe who lived a far better “Judeo-Christian” life than many of the believer. There are so many evil people who say they believe. Atheism is not synonymous with evil. Evil comes in all faiths and non=faiths. And, goodness too, comes in all of those same groups.
posted May 8, 2010 at 12:46 am
quote: “They are hurtful and inappropriate because those words ask that all those who do not share Rev. Graham’s faith, get fixed – that our “sin-soaked souls” be “obliterated”.”
Church may not be appropriate for this type of doctrinal passage. It appears that too many believe more in Sin’s stain, rather than a living God who gives mercy, liberty and forgiveness. The message is one of control and negative domination of another human being. Religious bondage appears to be an age-old tactic in this world through various outlets. What if love was preached and applied to a dying world on National Prayer Day; though reproof has its place?
posted May 8, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Quote: “They are hurtful and inappropriate because those words ask that all who do not share Rev. Graham’s faith, get fixed – that our “sin-soaked souls” be “obliterated”.”
The request was not that the “soul” be obliterated, but that the “sin” on the soul be obliterated. If we’re going to quote someone we should not twist so as to add something that was not intended.
That being said, all throughout the Bible we see it’s main characters, Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Jacob, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc., requesting God “get” those who were against the God of the Jews. I don’t really see this as much different.
G-d promises to cleanse us of our sins when we turn to Him. That is what I believe the intent of Graham’s prayer was.
posted May 9, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Mr. Graham is all wet. It is a ‘NATIONAL’ Day of Prayer, NOT a ‘Christian’ Day of Prayer. I have no problem with a NATIONAL Day of Prayer. I do have a problem with those who would make it into something that is solely Christian. His words are fine in the confines of a church but not for a temple, mosque, or other places of worship and as such that’s where he should have spoken them. I also have a problem with a religion that tells others, that they have to accept a certain belief, or be doomed, damned, or otherwise condemned.
I do not bow to or bend my knee to G_d but stand before my G_d, on my own two feet, as an equal; since we were created in His image. He and ONLY He, can forgive my transgressions. I have no need of an ‘intercessor’, ie, Mary, Jesus, Saints, etc.
posted May 11, 2010 at 10:56 am
“”The Myth of Redemptive Violence”, is speaks of Graham’s appaling attack on the victims of Hurricane Katrina, in which he called New Orleans, to paraphrase”A city of sexual perversion”.”
Nature’s wrath is something the entire world contends with….