We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end war:

For we know that You have made the world in a way

That we must find our own path to peace

Within ourselves and with our neighbors

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end starvation;

For You have already given us the resources With which to

feed the entire world, If we would use them wisely.

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to root out prejudice;

For you have already given us eyes with which to see the

good in all, If we would only use them rightly.

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, To end despair;

for you have already given us the power To clear away slum

s and to give hope, If we would only use our power justly.
 

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end disease; for

You have already given us great minds With which to search

out cures and healings, If we would only use them

constructively.

Therefore, we pray to You, instead, O God, for strength,

determination, and will power, To do instead of just to pray,

To become instead of merely to wish, For Your sake and for

ours, speedily and soon, That our land may be safe, And that

our lives may be blessed.

May the words that we pray, and the deeds that we do

Be acceptable before You, O God,

Our Rock and our Redeemer.

- Rabbi Jack Reimer