[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO RABBI BRADD H. BOXMAN

                                 ______


                         HON. VICTOR O. FRAZER

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 1996

  Mr. FRAZER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay special tribute to Rabbi Bradd 
H. Boxman. Rabbi Bradd H. Boxman was born and raised in Philadelphia, 
PA. He became a bar mitzvah and was confirmed at Beth David Reform 
Congregation, where he later taught in the religious school for nearly 
5 years. Bradd earned a B.A. in modern languages at Villanova 
University, where he also minored in Christian studies. From 1979-81, 
he served as president of the Hillel Jewish Student Union at Villanova. 
In 1980, he traveled to the Soviet Union to visit Soviet Jewish 
Refuseniks. In 1981, he began his rabbinic studies at the Hebrew Union 
College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem, where he created and 
facilitated a wood workshop program for physically disabled children at 
Alyn Hospital.
  In Cincinnati, OH, where Bradd completed his rabbinic education, he 
taught at Wise Temple and Yavneh Day School. He was chairperson of the 
social action committee at HUC for 2 years and was appointed as the 
first rabbinic student liaison to the UAHC Social Action Commission. 
Bradd served as a member of the board of the Cincinnati Council of 
Soviet Jews between 1983-86. His strong interest in and commitment to 
social action was recognized by the Central Conference of Rabbis in 
1985, when he was awarded the Horace J. Wolf Memorial prize for the 
social action programs he implemented.
  Rabbi Boxman was the student rabbi for 2 years at Temple Beth Shalom 
in Winter Haven, FL. He also served pulpits in Marion, IN, and at 
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH, where he was a civilian 
chaplain. Bradd's rabbinic thesis is entitled: ``The Significance of 
Brit Milah in Reform Judaism.''
  Rabbi Boxman began his career as a rabbi at Indianapolis Hebrew 
Congregation where he served as assistant and then associate rabbi from 
1986-90. At Indianapolis, Rabbi Boxman initiated several new programs 
and activities, including a Soviet Jewry Committee, a unique basic 
Judaism curriculum, and an award winning family education program 
entitled ``Geshber L'Mishpachah.'' Rabbi Boxman also directed the 
establishment of the new library facility at that congregation.
  Rabbi Boxman served as chaplain at the Indiana University Medical 
Center and as a civilian chaplain of Ft. Benjamin Harrison. He was 
chairperson of the Indianapolis Board of Rabbis, 1989-90, and was 
actively involved in interfaith work throughout his tenure in that 
city.
  Rabbi Boxman moved to St. Thomas in September 1990. Soon after his 
arrival he established Interfaith Coalition of St. Thomas/St. John and 
served as its first president from 1991-95. He served on the St. Thomas 
Hospital's pastoral care committee and its bio-medical ethics 
committee. He also served as a board member for the following 
organizations: The Child Abuse Task Force of St. Thomas/St. John, 
Y.E.S.--youth experiencing success, and the United Way Grant Allocation 
Committee.
  Rabbi Boxman was honored by the St. Thomas/St. John Federation of 
Teachers with a Feddy Award in 1993 for his religious leadership in the 
community. During the synagogue's bicentennial year 1995-96, Rabbi 
Boxman led his congregation's 200th anniversary celebration by bringing 
religious leaders, scholars, artists, and social programs to the 
island. These included Cardinal Bernard Law, Rabbi Harold Kushner, 
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Itzhak Perlman, Elie Wiesel, 
and Maya Angelou. He also helped to institute the Anti-Defamation 
League's teaching tolerance program called A World of Difference in the 
public, private, and parochial schools on St. Thomas and St. John.
  Rabbi Boxman and his wife Linda have been married for almost 13 years 
and have three daughters: Ariel, Talia, and Achira. They will next take 
up residence in Danbury, CT, where Rabbi Boxman will be the spiritual 
leader of the United Jewish Congregation.
  Mr. Speaker, as the representative of the people of the Virgin 
Islands, I wish Rabbi Boxman and his family God speed and remind him 
that they will always be a part of the Virgin Islands. We will always 
leave the door open and the light on for them.

                          ____________________