Mussar Prayer for the Country and Guiding Ethics
Written by Heidi Schneider
With gratitude to Rabbi Ira Stone and the Center for Contemporary Mussar
Jan 25, 2026
Bitachon. We Trust (Bitachon) in you, Divine creator, who has endowed us with the incomparable blessing of the world and of our lives in this universe (Olam Hazeh). Help us remember our constant partnership with you to bring about Olam Haba, the World to Come, here on earth. Strengthen us that we may strive together to bring more peace, security, and comfort to all our fellow human beings.
Achreyut. We know we cannot do this alone, even with You the Divine by our side. We need community to help us to be ever Watchful and Wakeful to the needs of one another. Bless our government and its institutions, national, state, and local, that they may help us fulfill our responsibilities (Achreyut) to one another.
Kadosh. We pray that our government prioritize the holiness (Kadosh) and goodness (Tov) of human life and the sanctity of our Earth home, which are the fundamental gifts of our Divine Creator. Raise up and support institutions that strive to protect human freedoms here and worldwide.
Ometz Lev. We pray for the security that government can provide us in our homes, in our schools, in our workplaces, in our streets. Bless the hands of all those who protect us at home and abroad from enemies and evil doers. May we act as a nation and as individuals with a courageous and wise heart (Ometz Lev) to bring about a better, more sustainable world.
Arevut. We believe that the many are one (Echad) in this United States and throughout the world. May our government and its leaders enable and fund organizations that strive to build a web of interconnection. May we be bound together in solidarity (Arevut) and mutuality to see one another’s burdens and be of service to each other. Let us honor our different histories, beliefs, and cultures, while harnessing our universal need to live together in understanding and cooperation. May these institutions be a scaffold for the order (Seder) and security our nation needs to live wholly and well. Honor, reward, and strengthen those who serve this country in all capacities, from the highest levels of military service to neighborhood volunteer outreach.
Tzedek. Justice, justice shall you pursue. Build up wisdom in our judges and all those who render legal decisions. Ground those who make decisions on behalf of us all to be guided by impartiality and even-handedness, based in the ethical values of our Jewish faith. May our judges and public servants wear Torah always as a spiritual garment that through their example we commit to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Kimmutz. Each citizen’s contribution is a treasure to the whole of our nation. Endow our government to be good stewards of their gifts, their resources, and the livelihoods they dedicate to the common good. May our leaders have the foresight of Joseph, to envision and implement long-term stability for our economy and conservation (Kimmutz) of our precious human and earthly resources.
Metinut. Grant our government and all those in authority, as well as each one of us, the power of discernment. Help guide our speech with thoughtfulness (Shtikah) and allow us always to seek to hear the voice of others in our decision-making. May our leaders seek wide counsel as they deliberate (Metinut) the path ahead. May our collective voice be true (Emet). Grant our country the vigor (Zerizut) to act with diligence (Charizut) to implement rightful actions, to build universal trust (Bitachon) in our democratic institutions, and assure the order (Seder) and security that they provide.
Our strength and direction come when we walk hand in hand with you, our Divine Creator. May You bring us forth from our narrow places with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
Amen.