[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5412]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     WELCOME TO RABBI JIMMY KESSLER

  (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, it is a real pleasure for me today to 
welcome Rabbi Jimmy Kessler to Washington and to thank him for his 
inspirational invocation. Rabbi Kessler, a native Houstonian, is rabbi 
of Congregation B'nai Israel of Galveston, the oldest Reform 
congregation in Texas. I am proud that he is a part of my congressional 
district and proud that he can be here today.
  Rabbi Kessler is not only a spiritual leader in Galveston County and 
throughout Texas, but he is a civic leader as well. People of all 
faiths turn to him for his counsel and his wisdom. He and his wife, 
Shelley Nussenblatt Kessler, are personal friends of my wife Susan and 
me. They are people who we count on for guidance and support.
  Rabbi Kessler is a leader throughout Texas when it comes to speaking 
out against discrimination and bigotry. He is a shining example of the 
diversity that makes the 9th Congressional District the beautiful 
mosaic that it is. Some of my colleagues may not know this, but the 
word ``rabbi'' in Hebrew means teacher, and that Rabbi Kessler truly 
is.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, regardless of their faith, to 
reflect on the words that the rabbi said today when he addressed this 
body. I think my colleagues will see the wisdom in this teacher's 
words.

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