[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 149 (Thursday, September 18, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9016-S9017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, their Web site is called 
frozenchosen.org. No kidding. Today I honor Congregation Beth Shalom of 
Anchorage, AK, an affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism, on the 
occasion of its 50th anniversary. It is a pillar of Alaska's small but 
vibrant Jewish community.

[[Page S9017]]

  Congregation Beth Shalom is one of five synagogues in the State of 
Alaska. Only two of those five synagogues enjoy the services of a full-
time rabbi. Congregation Beth Shalom is one of these two synagogues.
  I am pleased to acknowledge and welcome Rabbi Michael Oblath, the 
present Rabbi, who joined Congregation Beth Shalom in September 2007. 
He is the fifth Rabbi to serve the congregation since its founding on 
September 5, 1958. It is also appropriate to recognize the four other 
individuals who have served as spiritual leaders to Congregation Beth 
Shalom since its founding, beginning with Rabbi Lester Polonsky, Rabbi 
Harry Rosenfeld, Rabbi Johanna Hershenson, and Rabbi Fred Wenger.
  Congregation Beth Sholom was first organized on September 5, 1958. It 
was on that day that 20 people gathered in Burt and Bobbie Goldberg's 
home to welcome the Shabbat and organize a synagogue. At the time, the 
only Jewish services in Anchorage were being conducted by chaplains on 
Elmendorf Air Force Base, and organizers wanted to establish a Jewish 
identity for their children which were anchored to the city.
  Today, Congregation Beth Shalom occupies a beautiful synagogue 
building on East Northern Lights Boulevard, which opened 20 years ago 
to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the congregation's founding. The 
synagogue houses the Joy Greisen Jewish Education Center, which 
features a preschool open to the entire community, without regard to 
religious affiliation, an afterschool arts program and a summer camp.
  Congregation Beth Shalom has achieved Green Star recognition for its 
environmental and energy conservation efforts. Its Tikkun Olam program 
is engaged in numerous good works which help make Anchorage one of the 
best places in our Nation to live and raise a family.
  I am proud to recognize Congregation Beth Shalom on 50 years of 
service to our southcentral Alaska community. We have great 
expectations for your next 50 years.

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