[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 54 (Monday, April 26, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RABBI ISRAEL ZOBERMAN OF VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, THE FOUNDING RABBI OF 
CONGREGATION BETH CHAVERIM IN VIRGINIA BEACH, ON HIS CELEBRATION OF 30 
                     YEARS IN THE RABBINIC MINISTRY

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                          HON. J. RANDY FORBES

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 26, 2004

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Rabbi Israel 
Zoberman, rabbi of Congregation Beth Chaverim in Virginia Beach, on his 
celebration of 30 years in Rabbinic Ministry.
  Rabbi Zobermarn is the first rabbi to earn a doctor of ministry 
degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, affiliated with the 
Presbyterian Church, USA.
  From 1985 to 1995 Rabbi Zoberman's synagogue was the only one in the 
world to meet in a Catholic facility, the Church of the Ascension in 
Virginia Beach. While at the Church of the Ascension in 1993, Rabbi 
Zoberman invited Muslims to join in the first Jewish-Muslim joint 
prayer in Tidewater, celebrating the beginning of the peace process in 
the Middle East.
  With a penchant for community and a natural leader, Rabbi Zoberman 
became the first rabbi to serve as Chair of the Community Relations 
Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater; the first rabbi 
from Hampton Roads to serve on the National Board of Directors of The 
Jewish Council for Public Affairs; and the first rabbi to serve as 
President of the Virginia Beach Clergy Association. Rabbi Zoberman has 
twice served as president of the Hampton Roads Board of Rabbis.
  Rabbi Zoberman is the only rabbi who is a volunteer police chaplain 
in Hampton Roads, serving with the Virginia Beach Police Department.
  In recognition of his many pioneering activities on behalf of the 
Hampton Roads community, Cox Cable recognized Rabbi Zoberman in 1989 as 
a ``Great Citizen of Hampton Roads''.
  In 1999, Mayor Meyera Oberndorf of Virginia Beach proclaimed April 
23, 1999 as ``Israel Zoberman Day'' upon his 25th anniversary in 
rabbinic ministry, and his alma mater, Hebrew Union College-Jewish 
Institute of Religion in Cincinnati awarded him an honorary doctor of 
divinity degree.
  Throughout his 30-year career in Virginia Beach, Rabbi Zoberman has 
consistently demonstrated a remarkable spirit of ecumenism in his 
relations with leaders of other faiths and an equal level of enthusiasm 
for serving the Hampton Roads community. Because of Rabbi Israel 
Zoberman's resounding success, and his dedicated years of service the 
Hampton Roads community has benefited immensely from his leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Rabbi Israel Zoberman for his 
leadership, his commitment to Rabbinic Ministry and the many 
contributions he has made to his community.

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