[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 144 (Wednesday, September 3, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF BETH SHALOM CONGREGATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK BERGMAN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 3, 2025

  Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 
140th anniversary of Beth Shalom congregation. This historic synagogue, 
recognized as a state historical site, holds the distinction of being 
the oldest continuously operating synagogue in our state.
  As the remote mill community of what would become Traverse City grew, 
three Jewish merchants--Julius Levinson, Julius Steinberg and Solomon 
Yalomstein--organized a congregation in 1882. It was Mr. Steinberg who 
originally purchased the land where the synagogue would be built, which 
initially served as a cemetery for the congregation's members. In 1885, 
the synagogue's first cornerstone was laid, and in March of 1886, the 
building was dedicated, masking the beginning of a lasting religious 
and cultural presence in Northern Michigan.
  Over the following years, Beth Shalom congregation became not only a 
house of worship but also a beacon of service and advocacy. By the turn 
of the twentieth century, more than forty Jewish families were part of 
the community. Throughout the twentieth century, the congregation 
advocated for Jewish people across the world, helping a Jewish family 
fleeing Nazism in 1939 by raising funds for rescue and resettlement 
efforts. In 1970, the congregation campaigned on behalf of Jews 
persecuted in the Soviet Union, and in 1973, the congregation had its 
first woman president--symbolizing the synagogue's move towards gender 
equality.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to commend Beth Shalom 
congregation on its 140th anniversary and for its unwavering support 
for the Jewish community across the globe. For well over a century, the 
congregation has stood as a pillar of faith, resilience, and community 
spirit. I offer my best wishes to the congregation as they continue 
their efforts to serve their neighbors and enrich the broader fabric of 
Northern Michigan.

                          ____________________