Vice President, Rabbinic Initiatives Lauren Berkun was among the faith leaders selected by Democrats to speak at the nominating convention on Thursday August 20, 2020.

In Times of Israel, Lauren wrote about the place of prayer at a political convention, and the Forward profiled how she crafted her 40 second benediction. She was interviewed on South Florida’s NBC6, watch South Florida Rabbi Helps Deliver Interfaith Prayer During DNC Closing.

Transcript of her benediction prayer:

Good evening. I’m Rabbi Lauren Berkun. Please pray with me:
God, You have been a refuge for us in every generation.
As we conclude this convention from the safety of our homes, we pray for a national home where security, dignity and prosperity abound for all its inhabitants.
O Lord, our Guardian who neither slumbers nor sleeps, awaken us to the tireless task of perfecting our home in this great land, built on foundations of freedom, justice, and equality.
Teach us to number our days that we may attain a heart of wisdom. Strengthen us each day in our sacred duty to promote leaders who will transform crisis into hope, challenge into opportunity, cruelty into compassion, and hate into love.
So may it be Your will, and let us say: Amen.