[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 135 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF RABBI MILTON H. POLIN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 2, 1997

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Milton H. Polin, spiritual leader of 
Brooklyn's prestigious Kingsway Jewish Center since 1974 and past 
president of the Rabbinical Council of America is one of the foremost 
rabbinic personalities in the United States.
  At his ordination 43 years ago, his teachers characterized him as ``a 
gifted young scholar who will inspire a profound reverence for Torah 
Judaism.'' More recently he was paid tribute by the U.S. House of 
Representatives for being ``a man highly esteemed and respected by Jews 
and Christians whose lives have been touched by numerous good works and 
kind deeds of this outstanding spiritual and civic leader.''
  His rabbinic leadership has transformed his congregation into a 
pulsating center of Torah learning and communal activity for hundreds 
of young, highly educated, religiously observant families. He 
personally teaches a variety of classes for men and women of all ages 
and backgrounds at his synagogue. In addition, the Greater New York 
UJA-Federation recently recognized his congregation's outstanding 
outreach program for new American families and awarded it a significant 
Continuity Commission grant.
  During his presidency of the Rabbinical Council of America, the 
largest and most influential Orthodox rabbinical body in the world, he 
participated actively in the Conference of Presidents of Major American 
Jewish Organizations and continues to maintain regular contact with the 
chief rabbis and government leaders in Israel.
  Active in the larger community in many capacities, Rabbi Polin was 
recently invited to join the Orthodox Caucus, the foremost Orthodox 
think tank in North America, and the board of directors of the Beth Din 
of America.
  A lifelong religious zionist, Rabbi Polin is a national vice 
president of the Religious Zionists of America after previously serving 
as president of that organization's Greater New York Council. He is a 
member of the Rabbinic Advisory Council of the Jewish National Fund.
  In the several communities he has served, Rabbi Polin has at various 
times built a Mikvah, an Eruv, and two synagogues. His interest 
in Kashruth and responsibility for communal supervision long predated 
his chairmanship of the Rabbinic Kashruth Commission, the halakhic 
authority for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 
Kashruth Division. He currently serves as chairman of the Kashruth 
Committee of the Vaad Harabbanim of Flatbush.

  Rabbi Polin is a trustee of the international Memorial Foundation for 
Jewish Culture. He was recently reelected vice president of the 
Coordinating Council on Bikur Cholim of Greater New York. Previously he 
has served as chaplin of the Kings County Council of the Jewish War 
Veterans and as a member of both the rabbinic advisory and the 
executive councils of the Commission on Synagogue Relations, which are 
agencies of the UJA-Federation of the Jewish Philanthropies of New 
York. He chaired the Committee on the Public Information and Education 
of the Task Force on Missionary Activities of the Jewish Community 
Relations of New York.
  In his local community, Rabbi Polin has served two terms as president 
of the 90-member Vaad Harabbanim of Flatbush and chaired its Jubilee 
Anniversary celebration. He participated actively on the Board of 
Education of the Yeshivah of Flatbush for many years.
  With his wife Shainees, he was sent to the former Soviet Union more 
than two decades ago when Jews were not allowed to leave. They have 
shared their experiences, insights, and concerns for Soviet Jews in 
several forums. It was this experience that sensitized them to the 
special needs of today's new American families.
  An eloquent speaker and acclaimed scholar, Rabbi Polin's sermons have 
appeared annually in the Rabbinical Council of America Sermon 
Anthology. Yeshiva University President Dr. Norman Lamm characterized 
his sermons as enlightening and creative. His scholarly articles have 
been published in such journals as ``Judaism,'' ``Tradition,'' and 
``The Hebrew Theological College Journal.'' Several of his halakhic 
studies on Maimonides' Code has been published in Hadarom.
  Born in Chicago, IL, Rabbi Polin studied at the Hebrew Theological 
College--Beth Midrash L'Torah--in his native city from which he 
received his semikhaha and bachelor of Hebrew literature degree cum 
laude. At his ordination he was awarded a prize for his Hebrew essay 
``Rabbi Joseph Albo and the Debate at Tortosa, 1413-14.'' He also holds 
a master of arts degree in education from the University of Chicago.
  Rabbi Polin is listed in ``Who's Who in World Jewry,'' ``Who's Who in 
Israel,'' and ``Jewish Personalities All Over the World,'' and ``Who's 
Who in Religion.''
  He is married to the former Shainee Sachs. They have 5 children, all 
married, and 18 grandchildren. Three of their children live in Israel, 
and 13 of their grandchildren are Sabras.
  He never fails to leave me inspired by his words and honored by his 
presence. After 43 years of outstanding congregational and communal 
leadership throughout the country, he retires from his dedicated and 
faithful service. Rabbi Polin leaves behind a legacy that has touched 
us all in so many ways and at so many levels. Thank you, Rabbi, for 
being such an inspiration.

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