[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 113 (Wednesday, September 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO RABBI SOLOMON SCHIFF OF MIAMI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 13, 2006

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Rabbi Solomon 
Schiff who, after more than 40 years of public service, interfaith 
cooperation and community achievement will be retiring from his 
leadership positions with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.
  By any standard, Rabbi Schiff has had a remarkable career. He has 
served as Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Association of 
Greater Miami for 42 years and as Director of Chaplaincy for the 
Greater Miami Jewish Federation.
  He has served as Chairman of the Dade County Community Relations 
Board, as President of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and 
as Director of Chaplaincy for Mount Sinai Medical Center.
  Throughout his career, Rabbi Schiff has been honored for his 
dedication and community leadership. He has been awarded the 
Distinguished Community Leadership Service Award from the National 
Conference of Community and Justice and the Peacemaker Award from St. 
Thomas University. Rabbi Schiff received these awards for his efforts 
to develop an open dialogue between the Christian and Jewish 
communities in the Miami area. Rabbi Schiff was recognized as the 
``2005 Man of the Year'' by the Men's Club of Douglas Gardens and has 
received a Special Recognition from the Founders of the Miami Jewish 
Home and Hospital for the Aged at Douglas Gardens.
  Rabbi Schiff also has made great contributions to the community 
through his service. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 
1992 to serve on the ``We Will Rebuild Committee.'' This committee 
helped restore the areas in South Florida that were severely damaged by 
Hurricane Andrew. Lawton Chiles, the late Governor of Florida, 
appointed Rabbi Schiff to serve on a task force to study the problem of 
homelessness in Miami. Thanks to that task force, two new homeless 
assistance centers were created in Miami-Dade County. More recently, 
Florida Governor Jeb Bush appointed him to the Governor's Faith-Based 
Advisory Board.
  Rabbi Schiff also has served as a guest chaplain for the United 
States Senate in July of 1999 and for the United States House of 
Representatives on several occasions.
  We pay tribute to him for his service and thank his wife, Shirley, 
his three grown sons, Elliot, Jeffrey and Steven, and their seven 
grandchildren for sharing him with a grateful community. Mr. Speaker, 
Rabbi Schiff has set a high standard of service for us all. I wish him 
happiness and success in the future.

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