Rabbi Steven Exter delivers invocation

Thank you.

We will now have today's invocation, which will be delivered by Rabbi Stephen Ekster of Bayet Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, which is located at 3700 Henry Hudson Parkway in the Bronx.

I rise as a constituent, friend, and admirer of Councilmember Eric Dinowitz with the deepest thanks.

God who bestows your spirit upon all flesh.

Bring your blessing upon the elected legislators of this august body, the City Council of the great city of New York, upon its Speaker and Deputy Speaker, leaders and all members.

Grant our legislators the wisdom, strength, and moral force to faithfully represent their constituents and to hear their own inner voices

so that they might make laws that are fair and just for all citizens, enshrining their freedoms

and promoting their health, well-being, and flourishing as children of the creator of us all.

Grant our legislators the sacred chutzpah to reach across the aisle and forge compromises for the greater good.

For what unites us is truly greater than what divides us.

25 years after the most hateful acts our city has known, and just two days before the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, the Feast of Booths,

in which Jewish tradition understands that the ultimate sukkah, the ultimate dwelling, is the Sukkot Shalom.

The canopy of peace.

We ask you, God, to guide our city's council members in making this city, New York City,

a canopy of peace and welcome for all its inhabitants, living free of prejudice and fear,

a model city for all cities, of civil discourse and civic friendship,

of righteousness and justice, of love and loving kindness, a city of peace.

Let us say, Amen.