Invoking the natural beauty of Indiana and the courage, leadership and resiliency of its people, Rabbi Balkany lavishes praise on Indiana Representative Mike Pence.
Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana
Our father in heaven!
Oh to gaze across the hilly terrain of Indiana and see the tulip tree in bloom. Indiana’s state tree smiles with a yearly thatch of sunny flowers and is notable for its characteristic stance: it neither bends nor dips; the tulip tree stands plumb straight. At the crossroads of America, the values of America are regarded seriously with the strength of purpose of its state tree. They take definite shape. There is night; there is day. There is the path to follow and the one to avoid. To choose the right path requires vision. To stay the course requires resiliency. To call others to follow in your footsteps is courage. And to look behind you on the path of the just and to see a growing crowd following in step is the mark of a true leader. Vision, resiliency, courage, leadership; long ago these were the qualities of Abraham, who chose one G-d when others bowed to many. In scriptures we learn that three angels visited Abraham. Among them was the angel Michael who shared with Abraham the miraculous news that a son would be born unto him, assuring Abraham that his legacy would continue. Today, Oh Lord, we pray that you bless our Michael, Representative Mike Pence, along with his wife, Karen, their three children and all the children of these United States. We ask of you this: grant us the strength to know the righteous path when we see it and the courage to follow it wherever it may lead. Amen.”