[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 2 (Thursday, January 7, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E30]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MORRISTOWN JEWISH CENTER--BEIT YISRAEL, 
                      COUNTY OF MORRIS, NEW JERSEY

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 6, 1999

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th 
Anniversary of the Morristown Jewish Center--Beit Yisrael, County of 
Morris, New Jersey.
  The Jewish community in Morristown first began meeting in the home of 
Abraham Mintz and for several years, held Hebrew school classes and 
religious services there. At that time Morristown was very 
underdeveloped and this meeting spot was quite inconvenient to access. 
Over the next several years, the Center relocated to several facilities 
including Eureka Hall, the Masonic Hall, Lippman Hall, Miller Hall and 
the estate of Heyward G. Hemmel.
  The organization thrived throughout the first quarter of the century 
and offered numerous benefits of the surrounding community. During the 
1920's the Rabbi Signer established the Jewish Center League for 
religious, cultural, physical and social purposes. In order to suit the 
diverse needs of the League, a new building was sought. With the help 
of local department store owner, Maurice Epstein, the cornerstone was 
laid on March 3, 1929 for a new multipurpose meeting space on Speedwell 
Avenue in Morristown.
  In the 1950s, the Center enjoys a rather unique feature in that it 
housed Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Congregations with the 
building. As a result, it served as a model for like-sized communities 
throughout the nation.
  The Morristown Jewish center has continued to grow throughout the 
century and continues its mission of the founders by being the 
religious, educational and social core of the Morristown Jewish 
community. Currently, 430 families comprise the membership of this 
prestigious congregation.
  Mr. Speaker, for the past 100 years, the Morristown Jewish center has 
prospered enormously in order to unite the community and will continue 
to do so for many years to come. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my 
colleagues to congratulate the members of the Morristown Jewish 
Center--Beit Yisrael, on this special anniversary year.

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