[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 43 (Monday, April 14, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRATULATIONS TO TEMPLE BETH ZION-BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 14, 1997

  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of 
the Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel Synagogue, in Philadelphia, PA, the 
congregation and community at large will celebrate with the recitation 
of the Kiddush Proceed and festive music. Located in central 
Philadelphia, Temple Beth Israel was established in 1840 and is the 
third oldest congregation in the Philadelphia. This historic 
congregation merged with Beth Zion (1946) in 1964.
  In 1984, the Neziner congregation merged with Temple Beth Zion-Beth 
Israel. Today, the Neziner congregation would have been over 100 years 
old. All the artifacts from the Neziner Synagogue were carefully and 
lovingly placed at Beth Zion-Beth Israel in the lower level referred to 
as the Neziner Chapel.
  This multicultural congregation represents Beth Israel members from 
Germany and Poland, and Neziner members from Russia and eastern Europe. 
Beth Zion members are offspring of both waves of immigrants who defied 
flight to the suburbs and created a major Jewish congregation in the 
heart of this great American city.
  The present quarters, a gothic stone structure of the 19th century 
known as ``A jewel of a synagogue,'' with its lofty tower, is 
reminiscent of the ancient synagogue in Prague, with its distinctive 
architecture. The sound interior upholds the concept of the threefold 
function of a synagogue: a house of worship; an area of study; and a 
meeting place. Some of the services provided to the congregation 
include a Hebrew School and Youth Activities Program for youth age 1\1/
2\ through high school. Additionally, the synagogue offers an Adult 
Education Studies Program which is open to the public.
  The anniversary of this great American multicultural Jewish synagogue 
is worthy of mention to remind us of the extent to which diversity is 
an integral part of the American character.

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