[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF RABBI PETER H. GRUMBACHER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2009

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
today to recognize Rabbi Peter H. Grumbacher for his retirement in June 
2009 after more than thirty years of service at Congregation Beth Emeth 
and throughout the Delaware community.
  Rabbi Grumbacher moved from New York City to Wilmington upon his 
ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He 
became an Assistant Rabbi and Director of Education at Congregation 
Beth Emeth and after several years of service to the Jewish faith and 
the community, he was named Senior Rabbi in 1982. Constantly pursuing 
ways to better serve our community, the Rabbi earned his Masters of 
Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work of Yeshiva 
University.
  Along with his strong emphasis on education, Rabbi Grumbacher also 
served on a variety of local boards, including as the chairperson of 
the State Human Relations Commission, chairperson of the Delaware 
Interfaith Coalition of Aging, and as the senior co-chair of the 
National Conference of Christians and Jews (now the National Conference 
for Community and Justice). Locally, the Rabbi served as a chaplain for 
Jewish patients for 27 years. On a national level, Rabbi Grumbacher 
serves on the National Commission for Rabbinic and Congressional 
Relations while also previously serving as President of the Mid-
Atlantic Region Central Conference of American Rabbis.
  Once again, I commend Rabbi Peter Grumbacher's achievements and over 
three decades as leader of Congregation Beth Emeth. His remarkable 
commitment to his congregation, our state, and our nation speaks 
volumes about his character, integrity, and selflessness. I am very 
fortunate to feel his positive impact in the community where my own 
family and friends reside, and I trust that this will still be so. I 
wish Rabbi Grumbacher the very best in his well-deserved retirement and 
am confident he will find happiness and success in all his future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________