[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 39 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING TWO GREAT AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2001

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor to be here before 
you to recognize Rabbi Avigdor Slatus and Rebbitzen Rochel Slatus 
today. They are truly a special couple who have touched the lives of so 
many people throughout my district. This weekend, these people of God 
will be celebrating with their Synagogue, the Congregation Bnai Brith 
Jacob, upon their 20th anniversary of distinguished leadership in the 
city of Savannah. As a result, I felt compelled to make it known 
throughout the nation what the people of Savannah already know, Rabbi 
and Rebbitzen Slatus are great Americans and even greater servants of 
God.
  Rabbi Avigdor Slatus has inspired our community to a new level of 
Torah appreciation through various classes, shiurim, and lectures. In 
depth shiurim in Gemarah, Chumash, Halacha as well as beginners 
programs for those who have never experienced authentic Torah 
education. Rabbi Slatus has been actively involved in helping to build 
a day school for all Jewish children in the city of Savannah, and now 
has an enrollment of approximately 170 children. The Rabbi has also 
introduced a Kollel to Savannah which presents Torah classes on a 
variety of topics and issues for the entire community.
  Rochel Slatus learned the importance of seniors growing up in the 
nursing home facility her parents owned in Chicago, Illinois. As a 
first generation American and a daughter of Holocaust survivors, she is 
keenly aware of the plight of her people and has been a distinguished 
companion in her husband's efforts to elevate spirituality and growth 
within the Savannah Jewish community. She has weekly adult education 
classes and has taught kindergarten in the Rambam day school for many 
years. Currently, she devotes much of her time to the senior citizens 
who live at Buckingham South, the retirement home she started next door 
to the synagogue. The Rebbitzen is among the first to arrive there 
every morning and is always the last to leave. Every night she tucks 
each person in before she goes home and many on her staff have told me 
that she is their personal hero.
  Both the Rabbi and Rebbitzen have devoted their lives to our 
community and spreading the Word of God to whomever their paths may 
cross. It is this devotion that they share that compelled me to speak 
about them today. I am honored to know them and call them friends, but 
I am also honored to thank them on behalf of my district for their 
twenty years of service. I hope and pray to God they are able to do so 
for many more years to come.

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