ABRIDGED PRAYER BOOK FOR JEWS IN THE ARMY AND NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES, published by The Jewish Publication Society of America, Philadelphia, 1917. Hebrew and English on facing pages. Ownership inscription of soldier Bery Davideour, dated October 22, 1917.
In April 1917, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the Young Men’s Hebrew and Kindred Associations, the Jewish Publication Society of America, and the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of America joined together to establish a council to serve the religious welfare of Jews in the Army and Navy of the United States. The Jewish Publication Society of America proposed to publish an abridged prayer book for these men, provided agreement could be reached on its contents. A three-member committee was formed, consisting of Dr. Cyrus Adler, representing the United Synagogue of America; Dr. William Rosenau, representing the Central Conference of American Rabbis; and Dr. Bernard Drachman, representing the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations. The prayer book before us was published under their guidance. Alongside weekday, Sabbath, and festival prayers, the volume includes: prayers for the sick and wounded, prayers for recovery from illness, a prayer for the government, a hymn in praise of America, The Star-Spangled Banner, Hail! Columbia, a calendar, and more. The festival prayers included here are based on the Prayer Book for Jewish Sailors and Soldiers prepared for the British Army and Navy (see previous item). The introduction to the prayer book explicitly states that it is intended solely for the emergency circumstances under which Jewish soldiers are serving in the armed forces of the United States, and not as a replacement for the traditional prayer books used in times of peace.
85 pp. 15 cm. Original cloth binding. Creases to the edges of some pages. Stains on some leaves. Good condition.
