[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 24, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PENINSULA SINAI CONGREGATION'S 36TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2004

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the Peninsula 
Sinai Congregation on the occasion of its 36th Anniversary. From its 
humble beginnings the Peninsula Sinai Congregation has grown to include 
252 member families in Foster City, California, located in my 
Congressional District and has become an integral part of the 
community's social and moral fabric.
  In 1967, four pioneers organized the first meeting of the Peninsula 
Sinai Congregation in a San Mateo church. As the population of the 
congregation increased it was forced to move, first to the Peninsula 
JCC and later to its own facility in Foster City, California in 1979. 
At that time there was one small building that included an education 
wing comprised of four classrooms, a kitchen and the Col. David J. 
Reina Memorial Library. Five years later the facility was expanded to 
include a sanctuary/social hall and as well as administrative offices. 
Finally in May 2000, the Congregation completed a substantial 
remodeling, which included the creation of a dedicated sanctuary, a 
lounge, a full catering kitchen as well as additional classrooms and an 
expansion of the library.
  Mr. Speaker, from four pioneers the Sinai Peninsula Congregation is 
now a full service religious center, providing a Jewish education for 
its members from cradle to grave. In addition to Hebrew school programs 
for children in grades 3-10, the Congregation has a very active Adult 
education program. This program includes ``How to'' instruction about 
rituals and holidays, as well as Adult Bar and Bat Mitzvah 
opportunities for adult members who had not yet experienced this 
celebrated rite of passage.
  Mr. Speaker, the Peninsula Sinai Congregation also hosts an annual 
Chen Shapira Memorial Concert as its major fundraiser for the Chen 
Shapira Jewish Culture Fund. This fund is named after the late Chen 
Hayim Shapira who was born in Israel but emigrated to San Francisco in 
1965, and dedicated his life to broadening Jewish education and 
promoting Jewish and Israeli music and culture in the Bay Area. 
Although Mr. Shapira passed away in 2000, this fund continues his work 
by supporting positive Jewish cultural awareness.
  Mr. Speaker, in the Jewish tradition the number 18, called ``chai,'' 
is considered lucky, and since 36 is 18 doubled, the number 36 is known 
as ``double chai'' is also considered lucky. Therefore, on the 
celebration of the Peninsula Sinai Congregation's double chai 
anniversary, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the Peninsula Sinai Congregation on its extraordinary growth and wish 
the congregation continued successes in the future.

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