[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E544-E546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY HONORS INFLUENTIAL RESIDENT

                                 ______


                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 16, 1996

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the work of Rev. 
James w. Battle and to thank him for his outstanding dedication to the 
St. Paul/Minneapolis communities in Minnesota.
  Reverend Battle is the pastor of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church in 
St. Paul. His activities in the community, however, go far beyond his 
duties as pastor. Recently, the Luther Seminary recognized him for some 
of those activities by giving him the Seminary's Race, Church and 
Change Award. This award was given to Reverend Battle to honor him for 
his outstanding and tireless efforts to improve cross-cultural 
relations within the community.
  Along with organizations such as the Urban League, Chamber of 
Commerce, Council on Black Minnesotans, Rainbow Coalition and others, 
Reverend Battle has taken the lead in the efforts to address many of 
our community's most daunting problems. He helped organize a meeting of 
gang leaders from cities across the Nation, brought together to talk 
about problems associated with gang activity and how they could help 
forge peace between gangs in their communities. On the local level, he 
has helped unite several Twin Cities congregations, forming the St. 
Paul Ecumenical Alliance of Churches. This amazingly effective alliance 
is helping these 16 congregations coordinate their efforts to address 
community problems.
  During the years he spent giving his time and efforts to our 
community, Reverend Battle has participated in many efforts to improve 
the lives of our most precious and vulnerable citizens, our children. 
They are the future of the Twin Cities, and the nation. By opening 
doors of opportunity for young Minnesotans in the Twin Cities, Reverend 
Battle has helped ensure a strong future for our community. The 
mentoring and guidance he has provided to so many youth will not only 
increase those children's chances to achieve success, it will also 
ensure that the next generation of Twin Cities adults feels the same 
commitment to their community and respect for their neighbors that 
Reverend Battle holds in such high regard. These lessons are some of 
the most valuable ones a child will learn in his or her lifetime, and 
Reverend Battle has served as an exceptional teacher of these lessons.
  There is still much work left to be done to address and fill the 
needs of some Twin Cities residents. However, Reverend Battle's efforts 
serve as a strong foundation as he and the rest of our community 
continue this struggle. I join the entire Twin Cities community in 
thanking him for his hard work on behalf of the community and its 
residents, and I look to walk through Samaria and face the problems and 
meet the challenges of the community with a strong leader, Rev. James 
W. Battle.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter the following article into the 
Record. It was printed in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on April 9, 1996. 
It is a wonderful summary of the good work Reverend Battle has 
accomplished in the Twin Cities.

            [From the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Apr. 9, 1996]

                 Pastor Honored For Community Ministry

                            (By Pat Burson)

       The Rev. James W. Battle Sr. has preached peace to gang 
     members, repentance to sinners and colorblind community 
     service to the clergy.
       Battle, known as much for his social activism as his 
     pastorship of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in St. Paul, has 
     opened the church's doors to the community for meetings. In 
     1993, he helped organize a summit meeting of gang leaders 
     from around the nation to sit down and talk. He helped start 
     an organization to unite local congregations to work 
     collectively to solve problems in their communities.
       Luther Seminary will award Battle, pastor of Mount Olivet, 
     its annual Race, Church and Change Award today.
       In giving him the award, Luther Seminary honors one of its 
     own: Battle received a master's of divinity degree from the 
     school in 1977. ``It really surprised me,'' Battle said. ``It 
     let's me know you can make a difference in this world.''
       According to Rod Maeker, Luther Seminary's director of 
     cross cultural-education, the award is given to unsung heroes 
     for faithfulness to a ministry of reconciliation.
       ``The seminary views the Rev. Battle's exemplary ministry 
     as a wonderful role model for seminary students, parish 
     pastors and community leaders who are committed to serving 
     their community,'' Maeker said. ``He's a classic.''
       Battle has also worked to improve communication and 
     relations between residents, merchants and organizations in 
     the Frogtown neighborhood. And he is co-founder and co-
     chairman of the St. Paul Ecumenical Alliance of 
     Congregations, an interdenominational, multiracial, grass-
     roots organization started in 1990 that brings together about 
     16 local congregations to address housing, education, crime 
     and employment issues within neighborhoods.
       Local ministers applaud Battle's insistence that churches 
     get more involved in improving social, economic and living 
     conditions within the communities they serve.
       ``He's been consistent in saying that churches need to be 
     more responsive to those who have been left out--the 
     underserved--whatever race,'' said the Rev. James Erlandson, 
     pastor of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer who also is 
     involved with the St. Paul Ecumenical Alliance of 
     Congregations.
       ``Primarily, churches serve the middle class,'' Erlandson 
     said, ``If we're going to be consistent with Jesus' message 
     and the prophets' message, we need to serve the poor and 
     those who have been left out of the economic process, so we 
     can be a voice for those folks. He's been reminding us of 
     that.''
       Battle also is known as an advocate for families, children 
     and education. He recently was involved with the Twin Cities 
     African American Parent Involvement Committee, a local group 
     that organized the African American Parent Involvement Day on 
     Feb. 12. The effort was part of a national push to encourage 
     more black parents to take an active role in their children's 
     education.
       Phillip Penn, human resources director for the St. Paul 
     Public Schools, said Battle was an enthusiastic member of 
     that organizing committee, attending all the meetings, and 
     even opening his church for gatherings some Saturday 
     mornings. Battle also was key in alerting other ministers 
     about the project and urging them to spread the word to 
     members of their congregations, Penn said.
       ``He was just extremely supportive in every way.''

[[Page E545]]



                THE PASSING OF RABBI ARTHUR J. LELYVELD

                                 ______


                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 16, 1996

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to announce the passing of 
Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld on April 15, 1996. Rabbi Lelyveld held the 
post of Senior Rabbi Emeritus of Anshe Chesed congregation (Fairmount 
Temple), having served as Senior Rabbi for 28 years. With his passing, 
we mourn the loss of a close friend and a nationally recognized civil 
rights and religious leader. I rise to share with my colleagues some 
important information regarding Rabbi Lelyveld and his contributions to 
the Nation.
  Throughout his life, Rabbi Lelyveld was a strong and effective leader 
in the Jewish community. He was the founder and first president of the 
Jewish Peace Fellowship. In addition, Rabbi Lelyveld was the past 
national president of the American Jewish Congress and the American 
Jewish League for Israel. He served as national director of the B'nai 
B'rith Hillel Foundations, and executive vice chairman of the American-
Israel Cultural Foundation.
  During his lifetime, Rabbi Arthur Lelyveld was equally committed to 
the struggle for civil rights and social justice. At the height of the 
civil rights movement, Rabbi Lelyveld traveled with other clergy to 
Mississippi where they served as counselors to the Commission on Race 
and Religion. Although he was severely beaten, Rabbi Lelyveld was 
unwavering in his belief that the battle for equality could be won. He 
was a man of courage who shared a close friendship with Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr., and others involved in the struggle.
  The Greater Cleveland community also benefited immensely as a result 
of Rabbi Lelyveld's strong dedication. He was a gifted orator and a 
well-known author who was able to draw upon his life experiences as a 
lesson for others. Rabbi Lelyveld served as the Bernard Rich Hollander 
lecturer in Jewish thought at John Carroll University, and senior 
teaching fellow at the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies. He also 
served as adjunct professor of religion at Case Western Reserve 
University.
  The passing of Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld brings to a close a life of 
service which transcended religious and racial boundaries. He was a 
brilliant man who devoted his enormous intellect and energies to 
addressing and working to solve the inequities and ills in our society. 
He fiercely fought discrimination and racism wherever he encountered 
it. I came to know Rabbi Lelyveld through our serving on the board of 
directors together in the Cleveland Chapter, NAACP, and his involvement 
in the Civil Rights Movement in Cleveland. He was a man of peace but a 
warrior for righting the wrongs in our society.
  In later years, one of my fondest memories was that I had the honor 
of presenting Rabbi Lelyveld when he served as guest chaplain for the 
House of Representatives. In his opening prayer delivered in this 
Chamber in 1993, Rabbi Lelyveld challenged us to conquer the problems 
facing our Nation, such as homelessness, hunger, and crime. He 
challenged us to set the standard for other nations to follow. In his 
prayer, Rabbi Lelyveld shared his vision for this Nation--``a vision of 
brotherhood, justice and peace.''
  On April 17, 1996, services for Rabbi Lelyveld will be held at 
Fairmount Temple in Beachwood, OH. It is my hope that his loving and 
devoted wife, Teela; his children, Robin, Joseph, David, and Michael; 
and other members of the family, will take comfort in knowing that 
others share their sorrow. Rabbi Lelyveld will be remembered for his 
service to humanity. In tribute to Rabbi Lelyveld, let us work together 
with renewed vigor to make his vision for our society a reality.
  I want to share with my colleagues an article regarding Rabbi 
Lelyveld which appeared in the Plain Dealer newspaper.

       Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld, Civil Rights Figure, Dies at 83

                          (By Zina Vishnevsky)

       Cleveland--Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld, nationally known as a 
     fighter for civil rights and the state of Israel, died 
     yesterday of complications from a brain tumor at Montefiore 
     Home in Beachwood. He was 83.
       the Cleveland resident was the spiritual leader of 
     Fairmount Temple in Beachwood, one of the country's three 
     largest Reform congregations.
       He gained notoriety for his involvement in the formation of 
     Israel, the civil rights movement and in the struggle against 
     apartheid in South Africa.
       He was rabbi of Fairmount Temple from 1958 until retiring 
     in 1986. After becoming senior rabbi emeritus at Fairmount, 
     he served as a lecturer in Jewish thought at John Carroll 
     University, a Jesuit institution.
       Rabbi David J. Gelfand, now the leader at Fairmount Temple, 
     said Lelyveld used strict Judaic teachings to bring his civil 
     rights message to synagogues.
       ``He spoke fearlessly as one of the great advocates of 
     civil rights by making the message of the prophets come alive 
     through his words and deeds,'' he said. ``He emphasized from 
     our own Jewish particularity the eternal importance of 
     universality, the notion that all human beings are 
     interrelated.
       ``He was fond of saying we were all made in the image of 
     God.''
       Lelyveld served on the board of the Cleveland chapter of 
     the NAACP in the 1960s and played a major role in the civil 
     rights progress of Cleveland.
       ``He was the conscience of the community on many critical 
     issues,'' said Carole Hoover, president of the Greater 
     Cleveland Growth Association. ``His strength was in his 
     ability to pull us all together.''
       He was one of the nation's first rabbis to join the Rev. 
     Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s campaign for civil rights. He 
     participated in key marches, including Selma to Mongomery, 
     Ala., and provided financial support to the Southern 
     Christian Leadership Conference.
       In 1964, as part of the Cleveland clergy team, Lelyveld 
     served as a counselor for the Council of Federated 
     Organizations under the National Council of Churches 
     Commission on Race and Religion.
       He was beaten with tire irons by segregationists while 
     helping to register black voters in Hattiesburg, Miss.
       ``He was a giant--both as a rabbi and as a civil rights 
     leader. He used his brilliant and keen mind to make people 
     think deeper about social issues,'' said Rep. Louis Stokes, a 
     Cleveland Democrat, who served on the NAACP board with 
     Lelyveld in the 1960s. Stokes; his brother, former Mayor Carl 
     B. Stokes; and Lelyveld became lifelong friends.
       After the beating in Hattiesburg, Lelyveld said that he 
     worried that police would not apprehend the suspects in his 
     assault and would continue to harass civil rights workers.
       He issued a statement to his supporters in Mississippi. 
     ``There is only one way to stay here and not be corrupted, 
     only one way to stay and be faithful to Israel's convenants: 
     That is to stay and stand up for decency and freedom, with 
     all the risks involved. If you cannot do that--and it is 
     understandable if you can't--then for the sake of your souls, 
     leave Mississippi.''
       A month later, the men who beat Lelyveld received suspended 
     sentences ``on condition of good behavior'' and were fined 
     $500 each.
       Although he was an anti-Zionist early in his rabbinical 
     career, Lelyveld later said that he had ``become convinced of 
     the righteousness of the cause.''
       He worked for the establishment of Israel as a Jewish state 
     when many American Reform Jews were not always strongly 
     inclined to support Zionism or a modern state of Israel. He 
     met with President Harry S. Truman at the White House in 1946 
     to encourage U.S. support for a Jewish state, at a time when 
     the State Department seemed hostile to the idea.
       In 1970, during the election to his third term as national 
     president of the American Jewish Congress, he spoke out 
     against an attack by Jewish extremists on Arab diplomats in 
     New York in retaliation for a school bus attack in Israel.
       ``We cannot allow the horrifying acts of Middle East 
     terrorists to push us into committing or condoning irrational 
     attempts to take violent reprisals against Arab 
     representatives in our country,'' he said.
       Born in Manhattan, Lelyveld attended public schools in New 
     York City and graduated from George Washington High School in 
     Manhattan when he was 15 years old.
       He attended Columbia College and was the first Jewish 
     editor-in-chief of its newspaper, the Columbia Daily 
     Spectator. He was the student leader of the Glee Club, led a 
     band called the Columbia Ramblers and participated in soccer 
     and wrestling. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1933.
       He earned his master's degree in Jewish theology and was 
     ordained a rabbi at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. He 
     then taught on a fellowship from Hebrew Union College for two 
     years while his rabbinae was at Congregation B'nai Israel in 
     Hamilton, Ohio.
       He became a founder and first president of the Jewish Peace 
     Fellowship, where he worked from 1941 until 1944.
       Lelyveld served as executive director of the Zionist 
     Organization of America's Committee on Unity for Palestine 
     from 1946 to 1948. He was national director of the B'nai 
     B'rith Hillel Foundation from 1947 to 1956. From 1956 until 
     he came to Cleveland in 1958, he was executive vice president 
     of the American-Israel Cultural Foundation.
       He served as national president of the American Jewish 
     Congress for three consecutive terms from 1966 until 1972 and 
     had served at various times as president of the Synagogue 
     Council of America and the Central Conference of American 
     Rabbis, an association of Reform rabbis in the United States 
     and Canada.
       Lelyveld and his wife, Teela, made 28 visits to Israel.
       As president of the Synagogue Council of America, Lelyveld 
     served as a representative to the Vatican to improve 
     Catholic-Jewish relations.
       Lelyveld taught two religion courses at John Carroll 
     University through the Jewish Chautauqua Society as the 
     Bernard Rich Hollander lecturer, beginning in 1980. In 1989, 
     he filled the Walter and Mary Tuohy Chair of Interreligious 
     Studies at John Carroll.

[[Page E546]]

       In 1985, he spent a five-month sabbatical in South Africa 
     as the guest of the United Progressive Jewish Congregation of 
     Johannesburg.
       His son, Joseph S., was a long-time New York Times 
     correspondent who covered South Africa during the 1960s and 
     again in the 1980s and is now executive editor of the Times. 
     Lelyveld had once considered a career in journalism himself 
     when he was in college.
       In the late 1980s, after he retired from an active role at 
     Fairmount Temple, Lelyveld spent several months in Oxford, 
     England, as a scholar-in-residence at Oxford University. He 
     returned again over the years and was invited back last 
     summer.
       He was also an author, One of his books, ``The Steadfast 
     Stream: An Introduction to Jewish Social Values,'' was 
     published in September.
       As past president of the Central Conference of American 
     Rabbis, he wrote a book responding to contemporary radical 
     theology entitled ``Atheism is Dead,'' First published in 
     1968 by World Publishing Co., it was reissued in paperback in 
     1970 and again in paperback in 1985.
       He was mentioned or written about in at least four books in 
     1993, including ``A History of Jews in America,'' by 
     Howard Schar, and ``Truman,'' a biography by David 
     McCullough.
       In 1988, while on leave from John Carroll, Lelyveld served 
     as a chaplain and lecturer on a 100-day Grand Circle Pacific 
     Cruise aboard the Royal Viking Sea.
       He was awarded the 1992 Martin Luther King Jr. Award for 
     Social Justice by the African American Archives Auxiliary of 
     the Western Reserve Historical Society.
       Lelyveld served as senior rabbi at Temple Emanu El in 
     Honolulu, Hawaii, from September 1994 until June.
       He was a member of the Advisory Board of the Pastoral 
     Psychology Institute of Case Western Reserve University's 
     College of Medicine.
       Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Teela, and 
     daughter, Robin of Bethesda, Md. He is also survived by three 
     sons from his first marriage to Toby Bookholtz: Joseph S. and 
     David S., both of New York, and Michael S. of Arlington, 
     Mass.; and five grandchildren.
       Services will be at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Fairmount Temple, 
     23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. Arrangements are by 
     Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel in Cleveland Heights.
       Contributions may be sent to the Arthur J. Lelyveld 
     Memorial Foundation, c/o Fairmount Temple, 23737 Fairmount 
     Blvd., Beachwood 44122; or to the Religion Department of John 
     Carroll University, 20700 N. Park Blvd., University Heights 
     44118; or to the Montefiore Nursing Home Hospice, David Myers 
     Pkwy., Beachwood 44122.

                          ____________________