[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO RABBI JACK M. ROSOFF

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 1998

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on May 16, 1998, Rabbi Jack M. Rosoff of 
Congregation B'nai Israel in Rumson, NJ, will be honored on the 
occasion of his retirement after 34 years of devoted service to his 
congregation and his community. It is a great honor for me to join in 
paying tribute to this great religious leader, who has done so much to 
foster positive values among young people and has courageously fought 
against bigotry.
  Since 1964, Rabbi Rosoff has led the growth of the Congregation, 
quadrupling its members to the present total of 600 families. He has 
also presided over the expansion of the religious school, which now 
provides education for 300 students from kindergarten through grade 12. 
He developed the Israel Scholarship Program, enabling all junior 
students to spend six weeks in Israel. Rabbi Rosoff's organizational 
and motivational skills in the service of good causes was evidenced by 
raising over $3 million for the United Jewish Appeal and Israel Bonds 
through inspiring High Holy Day appeals, as well as his organizing and 
chairing the first Madison Square Garden rally for Soviet Jewry. He led 
the annual Walk for Israel, involving many synagogues in the Shore 
Area, and he led moving Holocaust Memorial Day Services every year.
  Rabbi Rosoff has been devoted to every aspect of his service to the 
Congregation, officiating outstandingly at life's joyous events--Bar 
and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings and brises--as well as counseling families 
and individuals a times of sickness, stress and bereavement. He 
organized and led the Rabbi's Bible Study and other Adult Education 
activities, and every week, through his inspiring sermons, he urged the 
members of his Congregation to join him in confronting the most serious 
issues.
  Rabbi Jack Rosoff bravely confronted discrimination everywhere he 
found it. When B'nai Israel, and a nearby Catholic church, were 
desecrated by vandals, he organized and led the response by more than 
25 houses of worship in the Greater Red Bank religious community. He 
served as a strong influence in securing equal rights for women in all 
religious observances, and was a key figure in securing acceptance of 
women as rabbis in the Conservative movement.
  Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Rosoff's list of associations, tributes and awards 
is a long one. Among his leadership positions were First President of 
the Shore Area Board of Conservative and Reform Rabbis, President of 
the New Jersey Rabbinical Assembly of United Synagogue and Rabbinical 
Assembly Representative to the American Conference on Soviet Jewry. He 
has served on the Board of Directors of Riverview Medical Center, Board 
of Directors of the Monmouth County Mental Health Association, where he 
chaired the Suicide Prevention Committee, Board of Directors of the 
Monmouth County Day Care Center, Board of Trustees of the Monmouth 
County Action Program and a member of the Planned Parenthood of 
Monmouth County Clergy Advisory Council. The Rabbi was Founder/Director 
of the Pastoral Counseling Institute for Clergy at Brookdale College, 
was a founding member of the Greater Red Bank Interfaith Council, and 
supported active participation in the Lunch Break program for the needy 
in the Red Bank area. He received the Jerusalem City of Peace Award 
from Israel Bonds and the Israel Solidarity and Aliyah Laregal awards 
for promoting tourism to Israel.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Other Body was honored by Rabbi Rosoff's 
presence when he delivered the opening prayer at the United States 
Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Rosoff has recently been battling cancer. Just as 
Rabbi Rosoff has prayed for so many during his years of service to 
Congregation B'nai Israel, our prayers are now with him. For his years 
of service, he has richly earned the admiration, gratitude and love of 
his Congregation and our entire community.

                          ____________________