[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 64 (Friday, April 20, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING FRAN AMIR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 20, 2007

  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fran Amir, a 
constituent from Plainsboro, to honor her on the occasion of her tenth 
anniversary as Principal of the Religious School at The Jewish Center 
of Princeton.
  Ms. Amir grew up in New York City and has been in the field of 
education and youth programming most of her life. A graduate of 
Brooklyn College, Ms. Amir taught social studies in the New York school 
system for many years. Ms. Amir did graduate work at Wayne State 
Univrsity in Jewish Studies, and has taught in Hebrew Schools in New 
York, West Bloomfield, Michigan, Toronto, and The Jewish Center of 
Princeton. She has directed teen programs both in summer camps and 
during the school year, and has served as the Youth and Family Programs 
Co-chair at the Jewish Center for five years.
  Ms. Amir's students receive far more than just the basics of Bar 
Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah preparation in her religious school curriculum. 
When becoming Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah, a young person is expected to 
assume the moral and ethical responsibilities of an adult, in 
particular, service to the community, or ``mitzvot.'' Ms. Amir provides 
the best possible role model of one who performs mitzvot. Along with 
her service to the local Jewish community, for example, she traveled 
with a group of her tenth graders to Biloxi to help with clean-up of 
the local synagogue, Beth Israel, after Hurricane Katrina. The students 
carefully removed and wrapped memorial plaques from the wall, ensuring 
their safe storage until a new temple could be built. Not only did the 
students help in a practical way, but also helped maintain the Jewish 
tradition of reverence for the synagogue and its trappings.
  The highest responsibility in the Jewish faith is to learn and teach 
the Torah. Through religious classes, youth programs, and by example, 
Ms. Amir exemplifies someone who celebrates her faith and tradition 
through her daily life. She shares her passion with her family and 
friends, and touches the lives of countless students, their families, 
and the congregation.
  I am proud to recognize Fran Amir for all that she has given to the 
community on the occasion of her tenth anniversary as Principal of the 
Religious School of The Jewish Center of Princeton.

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