[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10686]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            EUGENE AND CONNIE ROTH HONORED WITH SHOFAR AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 13, 2001

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my very 
good friends Gene and Connie Roth, who will receive the Shofar Award on 
June 14 from the United Hebrew Institute of Kingston, Pennsylvania.
  The shofar, or ram's horn is a religious musical instrument having 
profound significance in the Jewish religion. It constitutes an 
important part of the Jewish prayers in the synagogue during the 
festivals of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day 
of Atonement.
  The name of this award is certainly fitting. Just as the shofar plays 
an integral role in the Jewish faith, so too have Gene and Connie been 
an integral part of the United Hebrew Institute family for more than 40 
years. All of their children, Joan, Steven, Jeffery and Larry, are 
graduates of LJHI. Both Gene and Connie have served and still serve on 
the Board of Trustees, including Gene's service as chairman from 1967 
to 1969. In addition, Connie served as president of the PTA from 1971 
to 1973 and still serves as president of the Ladies Auxiliary of Talmud 
Torah.
  But UHI is far from the only Wyoming Valley institution to benefit 
from the services and talents of this dedicated couple. Among the 
organizations which have benefited from their expertise and commitment 
are the Gelsinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes University, the 
Jewish Community Center, Wilkes-Barre Industrial Fund, Congregation 
Ohav Zedek and its Sisterhood, the Jewish Federation, United Jewish 
Appeal, the United Way, the Osterhout Library, the Jewish Home, Queen 
Esther Hebrew Ladies Aid Society, Jewish Family Service, Martin Luther 
King Committee for Social Justice and Hospice St. John.
  Mr. Speaker, both Gene and Connie are pillars of the community. Gene 
has been honored many times by groups including B'nai B'rith, the Boy 
Scouts of America, and Who's Who, among several outstanding 
organizations. For her part, Connie was named the Woman of Valor by 
Congregation Ohav Zedek and was honored by the Women's Division of the 
Jewish Campaign and by B'nai B'rith Lodge.
  The primary focus for Gene and Connie has always been their family, 
their community and the preservation of Jewish heritage. Their 
longstanding efforts on behalf of the school, their synagogue and the 
community are truly inspirational. I am pleased to call to the 
attention of the House of Representatives this well-deserved award 
being presented to Gene and Connie Roth as well as their many good 
works, and I wish them all the best.

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