"[Howard Mortman] offers the first-ever full-length treat-ment of the Jew-ish lead-ers who offered prayers to open ses-sions in both the Sen-ate and the House. With-in the con-text and his-to-ry of the pre-dom-i-nant-ly non-Jew-ish prayers offered by Chris-t-ian guest chap-lains like Romagosa, Mort-man details an exhaus-tive highlight reel of rab-binic offerings. ... Stu-dents of Jew-ish his-to-ry, Amer-i-can polit-i-cal his-to-ry, and any-one who would appre-ci-ate amus-ing triv-ia along the lines of the fact that the late Lubav-itch-er Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneer-son has been cit-ed more in Capi-tol Hill prayers than Moses will enjoy this jam-packed and enter-tain-ing chronicle." -Stu Halpern, Jewish Book Council

"Mortman not only includes important and amusing anecdotes, but does for rabbis delivering prayers what Bill James did for baseball: His book is loaded with statistics you never thought you needed until you read them: The 613th Jewish prayer in Congress was delivered by a woman rabbi, nearly one-third of the 441 rabbis from over 400 synagogues who opened Congress have been New Yorkers, six rabbis who survived Auschwitz have opened Congress, 10% of the rabbis cite Isaiah, three rabbis didn't mention God...the stats and facts go on and on. If you want to impress your friends at kiddush or win some bets after Shabbat, this is the book for you."--The Times of Israel

"[A] fascinating volume filled with details--a history book in the truest sense. Every page [reflects] an extraordinary amount of research. ... When Rabbis Bless Congress is a valuable resource that should be on every rabbi's shelf and in every synagogue's library. ... I cannot emphasize enough how impressed I was by the precise details shared here. The author's passion for the task at hand shines brightly... The book itself serves as a reminder of the Jewish contribution to American democracy and how the Jewish community shares with all Americans a deep and abiding love for basic human values, thereby cherishing diversity and the many gifts that immigrants have brought to these shores. I highly recommend it."-- Rabbi Sally J. Priesand, American Jewish Archives Journal

"[A] unique publication enriching American Jewish history... [T]he book's impressive treasure trove collection of a myriad of fascinating and intriguing items with sprinkled humor." --Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman, CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly

"Religion has been a source of unity and strength in America. Our Founders were deeply connected to their faith--from day one. It is fitting that in the first session of the US Senate (in 1789), picking a chaplain to deliver an opening prayer was the first item of business.

Jewish American clergy would not have the honor of delivering an opening prayer in the Senate for another 80 years--in 1870. Now, thanks to Howard Mortman (C-SPAN wasn't around to record sessions of Congress in those early days), we have a comprehensive and fascinating history of the participation of American Rabbis in this important tradition of opening prayers in both chambers of Congress. Howard Mortman tells us not only about the content of the prayers, but also the many remarkable stories behind the men and women who delivered them.
In studying the prayers of Jews who opened our Legislative Branch of Government, we gain valuable insights into the great events, hopes, fears and dreams of a great people in a great country." -- Senator Joseph Lieberman

"This is a fascinating peek at