Sustain together in undiminished hope, O God of hope,

those who continue to labor with undiminished determination

to build peace in the land from which, of old,

out of brokenness, violence and destruction,

nevertheless hope emerged for so many of faith. . . .

Bless all the spiritual seed of Abraham together

with the light of your Presence. 

For in the light of your Presence

we have found a way of justice and mercy

and a vision of Peace. 

We praise you O God, Giver of Peace,

who commands us to Peace.  Amen  

            Rabbi Herbert Bronstein, Emeritus

            Northshore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, IL

God of mercy and compassion,

of grace and reconciliation,

pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:

Jews, Muslims and Christians,

Palestinians and Israelis.

Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope,

oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,

that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,

and peace and justice could be experienced by all.  Amen. 

            The Reverend Said Ailabouni, Pastor

            Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Almighty God!

After almost a century of mistrust and fratricide,

you inspired Jews, Christians and Muslims

to take the path of reconciliation in the Middle East. . . .

We ask for your forgiveness, O God,

yet we find it hard to forgive our past enemies.

May Your Words touch those who still stray

in the wilderness of vengeful violence,

forgetting your command to "forgive and overlook,

till God accomplish His Purpose;

for God hath power over all things."  Amen 

            Abdelwahab Hechiche

            University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

O God Source of Life, Creator of Peace. . .

Help Your children, anguished and confused,

To understand the futility of hatred and violence

And grant them the ability to stretch across

Political, religious and national boundaries

So they may confront horror and fear

By continuing together

In the search for justice, peace and truth. . . .

With every fiber of our being

We beg You, O God,

To help us not to fail nor falter.  Amen

             Rabbi H. Rolando Matalon

            Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, New York, NY

Lord God, we turn to you in these trying hours when

conflict is a daily reality for our sisters and brothers

in Israel and Palestine.  We promise you to work to our

utmost for peace and reconciliation in the region.  But we

know we cannot do it alone.  We very much need the strength

of your presence in our midst if we are to overcome the

obstacles before us.  So our prayer at this moment is that

you add your support to our efforts, that you show yourself

as a tower of strength in those moments when the barriers

seem impassable.  Together we can become beacons of hope

for just and peaceful societies in the land so very dear

to the peoples of your covenant.  Amen. 

            Reverend John T. Pawlikowski, OSM

            Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL

In the Name of God, The Everlasting Merciful, The Cherisher

Of the Worlds and Worthy of all Praise,

Our Lord: You have created us from a single (pair) of a male

And a female and made us into Nations and Tribes that we may

Know one another (not that we may despise each other) so

Help us to love each other and take the hatred and anger from our

Hearts so that the People of The Book (Christians, Jews and Muslims)

In the Middle East may live in Peace and Justice.  Amen           

            Dawud Ahmad Assad

            Council of Mosques, USA, New York, NY

Two peoples, one land,

Three faiths, one root,

One earth, one mother,

One sky, one beginning, one future, one destiny,

One broken heart,

One God.

We pray to You:

Grant us a vision of unity.

May we see the many in the one and the one in the many.

May you, Life of All the Worlds, Source of All Amazing Differences

Help us to see clearly.

Guide us gently and firmly toward each other,

Toward peace.  Amen.       

            Rabbi Sheila Weinberg

            Jewish Community of Amherst, Amherst, MA   

O God of peace, you have established Jerusalem as the Lord's House and a place of peace, and you have

called on all who live there to love you and prosper.  Instill in her inhabitants - Jews, Christians and Muslims

- a hunger for justice and dignity and a resolve to end the distrust that culminates in violence.  Grant them

the wisdom and patience to build a city where Israeli and Palestinian reside in safety, free from oppression

and committed to the good of all. 

In this endeavor, make everyone of us agents of your peace, O God.  Forgive us our indifference and stamp

out the prejudices that lead to hatred.  Fill us with the reconciling spirit of your presence.  So may we join

people of good will - in the Middle East and throughout the world - who raise before Jerusalem's gates their

insistent Shalom and Salaam: "Peace be within your walls. . . .Peace be within you."  Amen.

             The Reverends Harry and Judith Hoehler

            First Parish (Unitarian-Universalist), Weston, MA

In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful:

Guide us on the straight way, the way of those whom thou has blessed.

Help us so that we do not transgress the bounds of what is right and lawful.

Take us out of deep darkness into light.

Make us not bear burdens which we have no strength to bear.

Help us bring about mutual affection and understanding between us.

Grant us Thy forgiveness and blessings, O Our Sustainer,

for with Thee is all journeys' end.  Amen.

             Mian Ashraf

            New England Islamic Center, Sharon, MA

 Selections on the Imperative for Peace

from Jewish, Christian and Islamic Sacred Texts

 from the Hebrew Bible

Genesis 13:6-9; Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 34:15; Psalm 85:7-13;

Psalm 122; Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-5; and Proverbs 3:13-18

 from the New Testament

Matthew 5:1-11, 21-24 and 43-44; Luke 6:32 and 35-36: John 17:20-21;

Romans 14:19; Ephesians 2:13-14 and 6:12-17; and Hebrews 12:14

 from the Holy Quran

Sura 3:20, 84 and 133-134; Sura 4:90; Sura 5:32; Sura 6:54; Sura 8:61;

 Sura 14:23; Sura 16:90; Sura 17:70; Sura 19:62; Sura 41:34; Sura 42:40 and 43