[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO RABBI MORRIS RUBINSTEIN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2000

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, today my colleague, Mr. Waxman, and I pay 
tribute to an extraordinary individual and good friend, Rabbi Morris 
Rubinstein, who was honored this Sunday by the Valley Beth Israel 
Synagogue for his twenty eight years of dedication, leadership and 
service. The occasion will mark his retirement and will be celebrated 
with a ``gala farewell dinner'' attended by family, friends and 
congregants.
  Throughout Rabbi Rubinstein's forty-one year rabbinical career he has 
demonstrated--through both his words and his deeds--an unwavering 
commitment to Torah and Mitzvos. For the past twenty-eight years, we in 
the San Fernando Valley have been blessed by his leadership, guidance, 
knowledge and understanding. He and his wife Miriam created a family-
like atmosphere for all of the Valley Beth Israel congregants. Together 
they not only helped insure that Valley Beth Israel achieved a stellar 
reputation, but they made certain that the synagogue remained a unique 
and special place to worship, learn and congregate.
  In addition to his character, intelligence and hard work, Rabbi 
Rubinstein successfully accomplished so much at Valley Beth Israel 
because he was able to apply lessons learned from an impressive and 
diverse background. He graduated as a rabbi and teacher with a Master's 
Degree in Hebrew Literature in 1959. He entered the Air Force 
Chaplaincy as a First Lieutenant in the same year and his first 
assignment was in Ankara, Turkey. His next assignment was Kessler Air 
Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi where he became involved in the civil 
rights movement. There, at a clergy conference, he joined with Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr. in singing ``We Shall Overcome'' in Hebrew and 
English.
  After Biloxi, he left the military chaplaincy to take a civilian 
pulpit. Between 1964 and 1972, when he joined Valley Beth Israel, he 
served as the spiritual leader at synagogues in Mattawan, New Jersey 
and Scottsdale, Arizona. He and Miriam, his loving wife and partner of 
forty-three years, have raised five wonderful and accomplished 
children.
  We are honored today to ask our colleagues to join with us in 
saluting Rabbi Rubinstein for his dedicated service and tireless 
leadership. We wish him good health and every joy in his retirement.

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