[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 66 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4983-S4984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             JERUSALEM 3000

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, last Tuesday evening several 
thousand New Yorkers gathered at New York City's Battery Park for a 
gala celebration of the city of Jerusalem's trimillenium. This 
magnificent reception was hosted by New York State Gov. George E. 
Pataki and cosponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New 
York.
  Senators will recall that a similar ceremony was held in the rotunda 
of the Capitol on October 25, 1995. The main address on that occasion 
was given by a heroic son of Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak 
Rabin, in what would prove to be his last visit to Washington and to 
the Congress. It was thus all the more appropriate that Governor Pataki 
chose to dedicate New York State's official celebration of Jerusalem's 
trimillenium to Yitzchak Rabin's memory.
  I ask that Governor Pataki's moving remarks at the Jerusalem 
celebration be printed in the Record.
  The remarks follow:

      Remarks by Gov. George Pataki on Jerusalem 3000 Celebration

       Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to New York 
     State's celebration of the 3000th anniversary of the City of 
     Jerusalem. Today we are truly making history, as we gather 
     together in a display of unity and solidarity between the 
     people of the State of New York and the people of the State 
     of Israel.
       We all agree that now, more than ever, Israel needs our 
     support and help. Like so many times when the United States 
     relied on Israel for help, today we return the favor with an 
     unprecedented showing of support for Jerusalem and the State 
     of Israel. We are aware that Israel has sacrificed much in 
     their support of our country. One need only to recall the 
     Gulf War, when Israel respected the wish of the United States 
     Government that Israel exercise restraint so as not to 
     disrupt Operation Desert Storm.
       In 1003 B.C., the Bible records that King David moved the 
     Capital of Israel to Jerusalem. Since that monumental event 
     3000 years ago, Jerusalem has been a beacon of hope to all 
     those who cherish religion and spirituality. All of the major 
     religions have a special connection to this city.
       For 3000 years, people have traveled from all over the 
     world to visit this majestic city. Poets, artists, religious 
     figures, heads-of-state, and people from all walks of life 
     have been captivated by Jerusalem and its beauty, and so have 
     we.
       Today we are extremely honored to have guests who have 
     traveled from all of New York State, and from around the 
     world. I am particularly grateful to our most esteemed 
     guests, the Foreign Minister of Israel, General Ehud Barak, 
     Mayor Ehud Olmert of Jerusalem, and John Cardinal O'Connor 
     for taking the time out of their schedules to join us here 
     for this historic occasion, and other great men and women who 
     we heard from today.
       To the others from the various Jewish communities and other 
     communities, who have traveled from as far away as Syracuse, 
     Albany, Buffalo, and from throughout our great State and 
     elsewhere, we welcome you and thank you for joining us here 
     this evening.
       As the invitation for this event indicated, this evening's 
     celebration is dedicated to the memory and legacy of a great 
     hero of the State of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin. All of us here 
     today, Jew and non-Jew alike, recognize Prime Minister Rabin 
     not just as a great statesman, but as a man who gave his life 
     attempting to bring peace and security to his nation.
       I still find it sad that my first trip to the Holy Land and 
     Jerusalem was for the purpose of paying my last respects to 
     this great man. Tonight's celebration would not be complete 
     without us taking a moment to remember his dream of a secure 
     and peaceful Israel. We miss him greatly.
       As I indicated earlier, Jerusalem is significant to many 
     religions. This is why we have asked leaders of the various 
     faiths to join with us here today to show their unity with 
     Israel. I think we can all agree that never has there been 
     more accommodation, access and respect for sites holy to all 
     faiths and religions than through the care and consideration 
     of the government of Israel.
       For those who have had the privilege to visit Jerusalem, 
     there is no denying its beauty, its spirituality and an 
     indescribable feeling of magic. Who could forget a trip to 
     Western Wall? How can one put into words the history that 
     surrounds the old City? I think that the Babylonian Talmud 
     described it best when it said that ``Ten Measures of beauty 
     were bestowed upon the world; nine were taken by Jerusalem, 
     and one by the rest of the world.''
       As we rejoice this evening, I would be remiss if I did not 
     mention something about the Holocaust and the lessons taught 
     to us

[[Page S4984]]

     by that darkest moment in history, particularly in view of 
     the site upon which we stand today--adjacent to New York's 
     Holocaust Museum, which is under construction behind us.
       New York is home to one of the world's largest number of 
     Holocaust survivors. New York State understands the 
     importance of remembering and teaching about the Holocaust. 
     Toward that end, I am proud of the fact that New York State 
     has allocated $10 million dollars to the construction of the 
     New York Holocaust museum. And many of us will be returning 
     next month for the formal dedication of this museum. Israel 
     has meant rebirth for the Jewish people. It is for this 
     reason that I know George Klein was right when he suggested 
     that we celebrate Israel and Jerusalem right her, next to 
     this museum.
       Once again, I would like to thank all of you for coming, 
     and may we all hope and pray for a peaceful and secure 
     Jerusalem for another 3000 years and for all time to come. 
     May God bless you all.

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