[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING RABBI STEPHEN HART

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. BRADLEY SCOTT SCHNEIDER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2018

  Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my friend 
and a pillar in our community, Rabbi Stephen Hart. Rabbi Hart is 
retiring from his position as senior Rabbi after 25 years of dedicated 
and distinguished service to Temple Chai in Long Grove, Illinois.
   Stephen Hart was born and raised in Chicago where he attended Sinai 
Congregation in Hyde Park. He spent his young summers as at Olin Sang 
Ruby Union Institute camp, building on the Jewish identity establish by 
his family.
   After completing his undergraduate degree at Spertus College, he 
pursued his Rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College. He initially 
served as a rabbi at North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe for six 
years before joining Temple Chai.
   Over the course of his quarter century with Temple Chai, Rabbi Hart 
has nurtured an inclusive community that celebrates the full cycle of 
Jewish life and inspires lifelong learning, community service and a 
love of Israel. He has served his congregation, and indeed our broader 
local community with distinction, leading by example through his keen 
understanding of Jewish values and dedication to active outreach and 
youth engagement.
   Rabbi Hart has long been dedicated to community outreach. Early in 
his career, while at North Shore Congregation Israel, he helped develop 
the nationally-recognized ``Stepping Stones to a Jewish Me'' program, 
intended to help children of interfaith marriages understand the faith 
of their Jewish parent. Rabbi Hart has also been a leader in the 
national Jewish community, serving on the National Commission on Reform 
Jewish Outreach of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the 
Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Hart also serves on the Executive 
Committee of the Chicago Association of Reform Rabbis.
   A resident of Buffalo Grove, Rabbi Hart is married to his wife, 
Mendy and together are the proud parents of two daughters, Lani and 
Dena.
   I want to thank Rabbi Hart for 25 years of committed service, 
dedicated leadership, vision and passion. On behalf of Illinois' Tenth 
Congressional District, I wish Rabbi Hart the very best in his well-
deserved retirement with family and friends.

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