[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14706]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 14706]]

                      HONORING RABBI MORRIS SHERER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 29, 1999

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to introduce, along with 
my colleague from New York, Mr. Gilman, a resolution expressing the 
sense of the House of Representatives in honor of the extraordinary 
life and work of Rabbi Morris Sherer. Rabbi Sherer's tremendous 
contributions to Judaism, and to this nation, really shine as an 
example which both deserves honor and emulation.
  I had the good fortune and privilege to know Rabbi Sherer, and recall 
his dedication to the preservation of Judaism in years following 
Holocaust. He fought for religious liberty, he built educational 
programs, and always provided guidance to the perplexed. Torat Emet 
Hayta b'pihv--The Torah was always in his mouth. His leadership helped 
bring about a rebirth of Orthodox Jewish life, of charitable giving and 
of learning as the President of the Agudath Israel of America since 
1961.
  Mr. Speaker, I think Americans of all faiths can learn a great deal 
from the life of Rabbi Sherer. His commitment to the preservation of 
the faith and culture of our people, his devotion to education and to 
helping those least fortunate, his ability to reach out to others to 
make this a better nation, his record of accomplishment, all make his 
life and work an inspiration to all. I urge our colleagues to join in 
honoring the life of this outstanding American.

                              H. Res. 229

       Whereas Rabbi Morris Sherer was born in New York City on 
     June 18, 1921;
       Whereas upon receiving his rabbinic ordination from Ner 
     Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, Maryland, Rabbi 
     Sherer joined the Agudath Israel of America in 1943, devoting 
     his energies to rescue and relief activities on behalf of 
     European Jewry during the Second World War;
       Whereas through his work with the Agudath Israel of 
     America, Rabbi Sherer played a major role in the post-World 
     War II renaissance of Orthodox Jewish life in the United 
     States, fusing the talents and energies of native-born 
     Americans with the determination and courage of immigrant 
     Holocaust survivors and refugees to help build Orthodox 
     Jewish communities and institutions across the country;
       Whereas Rabbi Sherer worked tirelessly and effectively to 
     safeguard religious liberty in America and throughout the 
     world, to safeguard the rights of Sabbath observers, to 
     assist the beleaguered Jewish communities in lands of 
     oppression across the globe, to address the needs of needy 
     persons of all backgrounds, and to apply the moral and 
     ethical teachings of classical Judaism to issues and problems 
     of modern society; and
       Whereas Rabbi Sherer died on May 17, 1998, leaving behind a 
     legacy of extraordinary humanitarian accomplishment: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives--
       (1) that Rabbi Morris Sherer should be recognized as one of 
     the outstanding American religious leaders of our time, who 
     played a historic role in the growth and development of the 
     Orthodox Jewish community in the United States; and
       (2) that Rabbi Morris Sherer's life of commitment to 
     education, human dignity, religious liberty, and freedom is 
     one which serves as an inspiration to all people and deserves 
     emulation.

     

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