[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 12, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3441-S3442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           THE GUEST CHAPLAIN

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, this is a very welcome moment for me 
because I have known Rabbi Orenstein personally for many years. Members 
of my family have worshiped at his synagogue, the Congregation Beth El 
in South Orange. I have worshiped with him for 35 years.
  Rabbi Orenstein is going to be retiring from Congregation Beth El 
very shortly. He and his lovely wife Sylvia are going to be honored for 
their many years of service, and it is going to be done next month.
  Rabbi Orenstein is a distinguished scholar. He has a master's degree 
in Judaica and was ordained as rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary 
of America where he also received a doctorate of divinity.
  He has completed course work for a Ph.D. in linguistics at New York 
University. The rabbi has always inspired education and learning in his 
congregation and has held interesting meetings for the congregation 
over the years. He traveled to Russia on four separate occasions to 
meet and teach refuseniks.

[[Page S3442]]

  Also, during his career, he served as a chaplain at Lackland Air 
Force Base in Texas and St. Alban's Naval Hospital, and he is now a 
chaplain for the New Jersey State police.
  I have a personal message for Rabbi Orenstein, and that is, as he 
contemplates retirement--I speak as one who knows; I tried retirement, 
and I did not like it. I am not recommending anything differently for 
you, but I know with your active mind and your social conscience 
you are going to be doing lots of things that continue to benefit the 
community, and I expect you will be spending a lot of time with your 
six grandchildren. We wish all of you well.

  The rabbi's daughter Debra is also a rabbi, and she serves at a 
synagogue in Los Angeles. She has authored a book on Jewish rituals for 
women. Rabbi Orenstein is justifiably proud of his family, his 
daughter, and his other two children, one of whom is a professor at the 
Law School of Indiana, and his son Raphael, who is soon to be a doctor.
  I know the 575 families at Congregation Beth El will miss Rabbi 
Orenstein. I make the plea here: Do not take this retirement too 
seriously. Stay active; be available to the community. We wish you 
well. It has been my honor and pleasure to know you well for so many 
years. I look forward to our contact continuing.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New Jersey, Mr. 
Corzine, is recognized.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, it is also my honor to bestow my 
congratulations on Rabbi Orenstein for his 35 years of service to 
Congregation Beth El and a lifetime of service to community and 
mankind.
  His words this morning about love and our responsibility to our 
communities and attention, which is demonstrated both by his family and 
the Congregation Beth El, are testimony to a human being who has a 
heart that reflects that love in his everyday life.
  Senator Lautenberg has gone through his resume, but the real issue of 
a man's life is what he has done for others, and no one has contributed 
more to his community or reached out to lift up his fellow man than 
Rabbi Orenstein.
  I am honored that he was able to open this morning's session, but I 
am also honored to have him as a friend. Thank you very much for being 
here.
  I yield the floor.

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