[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1293-E1294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO RABBI RICHARD A. BLOCK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 1999

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Rabbi Richard Block, an 
outstanding leader of the 14th Congressional District and senior rabbi 
at the Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, California for the last 
twelve years. Rabbi Block steps down as head of this remarkable 
congregation this weekend to accept the post of President and Chief 
Executive of the World Union for Progressive Judaism in Jerusalem, the 
world's largest organization of religiously affiliated Jews.
  Rabbi Block was ordained and awarded a Master of Arts in Hebrew 
Letters at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 
Cincinnati, Ohio in 1982. During his academic career, Rabbi Block 
earned numerous awards for academic distinction, writing and sermonic 
excellence.
  Upon ordination, he was chosen Rabbi of Greenwich Reform Synagogue in 
Riverside, Connecticut and in 1987 came to Congregation Beth Am in Los 
Altos Hills, California.
  As senior rabbi he helped create a variety of programs aimed at 
advancing Jewish education and congregational life. His achievements 
include: Experiment in Congregation, a unique national partnership 
aimed at reinvigorating Jewish education and congregational life; the 
creation of a nationally recognized program to integrate emigres from 
the former Soviet Union in Jewish life; the Koret Synagogue Initiative, 
a collaboration between synagogues, the Koret Foundation and the Jewish 
Community Federation. Rabbi Block was honored by the Jewish Family and 
Children's

[[Page E1294]]

Services of San Francisco with their prestigious 1999 ``FAMMY Award'', 
in appreciation and recognition of his extraordinary caring and 
dedicated community service.
  Prior to his rabbinical studies, this remarkable man graduated from 
the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the 
Yale Law School. He served as Editor of the Law Review and as a law 
clerk to a U.S. District Court Judge. Rabbi Block served in the U.S. 
Navy's Judge Advocate General's Corps, including a term as Special 
Assistant U.S. Attorney in San Diego.
  Rabbi Block and his wife Susan have been married over thirty years 
and have two exceptional and loving sons, Joshua and Zachary.
  Our community will miss Rabbi Block immensely. At the same time, we 
are extremely proud of the important work he will take on as President 
of the World Union.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout his remarkable career, Rabbi Richard Block 
has preached a message of compassion, justice and service to others. 
Every day of his life he has served as a shining example of these 
values. It is for these reasons that I urge my colleagues to join me in 
honoring this noble man of faith and this passionate community leader 
for his inspired leadership of Congregation Beth Am. We honor him for 
his eloquent voice for good and his having made our community and our 
country infinitely better.

                          ____________________