The communications director for C-SPAN Howard Mortman discusses his new book When Rabbis Bless Congress: The Great American Story of Jewish Prayers on Capitol Hill (Cherry Orchard Books, 2020), with Joseph Planta.

When Rabbis Bless Congress: The Great American Story of Jewish Prayers on Capitol Hill by Howard Mortman (Cherry Orchard Books, 2020). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: When Rabbis Bless Congress

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

A new book looks at the prayers offered at the opening of each session of Congress, in particular when offered by guest chaplains of the Jewish faith. When Rabbis Bless Congress: The Great American Story of Jewish Prayers on Capitol Hill offers insight into the practice and tradition of the invocation, the politics within the institutions of the American House of Representatives and Senate, as well as gets the reader thinking about whether prayer has a place in the public realm, even though the idea of the separation between church and state is as old as the republic itself. If you’re a history buff, the book is an engaging look at this sometimes tenuous partition between governing and faith. The book’s author Howard Mortman, who joins me now, profiles the over four hundred rabbis who have delivered prayers, over the 160 years or so since the first rabbi was invited. The book is also a great introduction to American Jewish history, thanks to his look at these distinguished religious men and women. It’s unlikely that prayers in the legislative bodies of the United States will disappear anytime soon—it goes back to the Continental Congress—yet the idea of how faith shapes the United States hasn’t been looked at in this way heretofore. Howard Mortman is communications director for C-SPAN, the public service providing television coverage of the United States Congress. He is of the Beltway, if you will, someone who’s worked in and around Washington, DC, whether in the media at MSNBC, National Journal’s Hotline, as well as in politics on a presidential campaign, as well as an appointee in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland. His Twitter handle is @HowardMortman. This new book is published by Cherry Orchard Books. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Howard Mortman; Mr. Mortman, good morning.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

Subscribe: RSS