A group of interfaith and Jewish activists are calling for President Obama to once again declare this year's National Day of Prayer (NDP) as one that's inclusive of all faith traditions.

Washington-D.C.-based groups the Interfaith Alliance and Jews On First issued a joint letter to Obama on Monday urging him to ensure that that the 2010 National Day of Prayer, which will be observed on May 6, is one that "explicitly opens this day to clergy and believers of all religions, as well as those who profess no religion," adding that such an observance is "in keeping with President Truman's original intent."

"While we believe a call to prayer is best left to religious leaders and not the government, we would respectfully request that if you do issue a proclamation, that once again you call for an Inclusive Day of Prayer and Reflection as you did last year," the groups wrote.

Last year's proclamation from President Obama focused on remembering the Golden Rule of loving neighbors as ourselves, which Obama said is the "one law that binds all great religions together."

"Our world grows smaller by the day, and our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife; and to lift up those who have fallen on hard times," Obama wrote. "As we observe this day of prayer, we remember the one law that binds all great religions together: the Golden Rule, and its call to love one another; to understand one another; and to treat with dignity and respect those with whom we share a brief moment on this Earth."

Obama received criticism from some evangelicals last year for his toned down version of the NDP, which had risen to be a prominent White House event under the Bush administration.

But while President Obama will again keep the NDP low key this year on his agenda, the National Day of Prayer Task Force, headed by Focus on the Family's Shirley Dobson, will continue their traditional event held for members of Congress, with this year's speakers including Franklin Graham, James Dobson and others.

For the groups advocating for a multi-faith day of prayer, however, the National Day of Prayer Task Force is seen as a "group of religious exclusivists" which has "represented itself in a way that led many to believe that they were the government sanctioned National Day of Prayer organizers."

"In fact, [the Task Force] clearly represent only certain evangelical Christians," the groups write. "While they have taken some steps this year to clarify their role, the casual visitor to their website would still assume that it is the official website of the National Day of Prayer."

According to the groups, a more inclusive National Day of Prayer would be one that "restores and reflects our nation's best values by explicitly inviting clergy from diverse faith traditions to participate equally and fully - especially in events held on government property."

Meanwhile, a ruling last week from a Wisconsin district judge that deemed the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional will be appealed by the federal government, reports said on Thursday.

The appeal follows a news conference on Capitol Hill yesterday where several lawmakers and religious leaders defended the observance as an important part of the nation's history.

"National days of prayer have a long-standing and significant history in American tradition that should not be changed or meddled with," Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) told NBC. "This nation is great because our founding fathers committed to prayer and the principles of their faith and it's important for America to remember our heritage."