[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO RABBI MOSHE AND LOIS ROTHBLUM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2006

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rabbi Moshe 
and Lois Rothblum, a dynamic couple that has been involved in the Adat 
Ari El synagogue community for 35 years. Rabbi Rothblum is celebrating 
his retirement, and Lois Rothblum is receiving the Adat Ari El 
Humanitarian Award.
  Rabbi Rothblum has long been a part of the Los Angeles community. He 
attended Fairfax High School and Los Angeles Hebrew High and graduated 
from UCLA. His parents instilled in him a love of music and musical 
theater, evident in his role as a counselor and music specialist at 
Camp Ramah. He went on to direct musical theater at Adat Ari El during 
his tenure as Rabbi, and his musical compositions for Shabbat and other 
occasions are still sung in synagogues all over the world. After his 
retirement, he will continue to stay involved in youth musical theater.
  Moshe's love of music is only one of many amazing facets of his 
personality that he has showcased as Rabbi. He has been an eloquent 
advocate for Israel in the Jewish community and the larger southern 
California community. He is a quiet champion of social justice. He met 
with the late Cesar Chavez to discuss the plight of migrant farm 
workers. He broke precedent with the Conservative Jewish movement when, 
in 1985, he appointed Rabbi Leslie Alexander, the first woman to serve 
a large Conservative congregation. Rabbi Rothblum also met the late 
Pope John Paul II during his time as president of the Southern 
California Board of Rabbis. He is a renowned spiritual leader who has 
touched many lives.
  Lois Rothblum is receiving the Adat Ari El Humanitarian Award. She 
attended New York University and Columbia University Teachers College. 
Lois was a religious school teacher for 9 years, and her passion and 
dedication caused her to become a leading Jewish educator. She 
currently serves as director of teacher education at the Fingerhut 
School of Education, University of Judaism.
  Rabbi Moshe and Lois Rothblum have made lasting impressions on the 
Adat Ari El community, as well as the larger Los Angeles community. I 
am proud to call them friends and proud to be a member of their 
congregation. I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting and honoring 
Moshe and Lois for all that they have achieved.

                          ____________________