Rabbi Gives Opening Invocation of Republican National Convention
At the opening of the 2016 Republican National Convention on Monday, Rabbi Ari Wolf provided the invocation.
Wolf is a chaplain with the Cleveland Police Department. His appearance at the GOP convention follows the news that Ivanka Trump’s rabbi, Haskel Lookstein, dropped out after his planned invocation appearance “became too political.”
Wolf’s prayer focused on those in attendance at the convention, on law enforcement and for the nation as a whole.
“Our Heavenly Father, we acknowledge Your grace and Your beneficence,” he said. “We ask for Your blessings upon this Republican National Convention and all those gathered here. We ask for Your blessings on our country and our people and we seek Your guidance and continued protection.
“Lord God, we live in perilous and dangerous times. Today, our beloved country is under attack. Our family values and our moral principles and even our very democracy is threatened. We beseech You for Your continued watchfulness and protections as we renew our covenant of faith with You and with each other.
“Lord protect our leaders. Protect the members of our armed forces who serve so valiantly. Bring them home when their noble missions are done. Lord God watch over and safeguard our police officers and all our first responders who work each day and night in every city, town and hamlet of our great nation to protect us and our freedoms. We ask You of this, O Lord, not because we have merit but because we rely upon You and Your merciful grace.
“Lord, please bless all those engaged in this convention and that Thy will be done in their deliberations … May God bless you and keep you. May God shine His countenance upon you and be gracious to you. May God lift up His face to you and give you peace in a world of peace. And let us say Amen.”
Click here to see the entire prayer.
