[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    HONORING RABBI LEONARD S. CAHAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2001

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and celebrate Rabbi 
Leonard Cahan, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Har Shalom of Potomac, 
Maryland who is retiring the summer after 27 years of service. Rabbi 
Cahan and his wife Elizabeth have lived in Potomac during this time, 
and raised their four children in this community.
  Under Rabbi Cahan's leadership, Har Shalom has grown four-fold, to 
become a leading congregation in Montgomery County, Maryland and in the 
Conservative movement nationwide. He has guided Har Shalom to the 
forefront of egalitarianism, family, and adult education, participatory 
worship, community service, and interfaith activities. Har Shalom's 
worship services have been a model for the creation of a new 
conservative prayer book, Siddur Sim Shalom. Har Shalom was honored to 
have Rabbi Cahan serve as the senior editor of this prayer book, which 
has now been adopted by much of the Conservative Jewish movement.
  Several years ago, the Good Morning America television program chose 
Rabbi Cahan as one of the nation's outstanding clergy. He appeared on 
the show, along with a minister and priest, discussing the religious, 
spiritual, and communal nature of their lives as clergymen, and their 
role in their communities.
  Rabbi Cahan has deeply touched the lives of many members of Har 
Shalom, as well as others in the community. He has officiated numerous 
life cycle events such as baby namings, funerals, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, 
marriages, and other times of family joy and sorrow. He has taught 
numerous courses to Har Shalom's congregants of all ages, as well as in 
interfaith settings in the community. Rabbi Cahan has no doubt been the 
inspiration to a growing number of Har Shalom's youth, who are or will 
become the rabbis of the next generation.
  Rabbi Cahan will continue to serve as Rabbi Emeritus at Congregation 
Har Shalom following his retirement. He will continue to teach, 
officiate at High Holy Day services, and serve the spiritual needs of 
the Jewish community of Montgomery County.

                          ____________________