[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23535]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF RABBI STUART WEINBLATT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 22, 2002

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt 
on his 50th birthday and in recognition of the tremendous work he has 
done on behalf of others. Rabbi Weinblatt and his wife Symcha are the 
parents of four wonderful children, Ezra, Margalit, Micha, and Noam. He 
is the founding Rabbi of Congregation B'nai Tzedek, a Conservative 
synagogue in Potomac, Maryland, to which I belong, serving more than 
620 families. Prior to forming Congregation B'nai Tzedek in 1988, Rabbi 
Weinblatt was the Rabbi of Temple Solel in Bowie, Maryland, for seven 
years and Temple Beth Am in Miami, Florida, from 1979-1981.
  Rabbi Weinblatt is active in a number of local and national 
organizations, including the National Rabbinic Cabinet of the UHC, 
Hillel at the University of Maryland, the Jewish National Fund, Israel 
Bonds, the Jewish Community Council, where he chaired a committee on 
Jewish Life and Culture, and the Federation of Greater Washington, 
where he chaired the Super Sunday effort several years ago. Rabbi 
Weinblatt has also served as President of the Washington Board of 
Rabbis. He has been an adjunct professor of Jewish History and Theology 
at Wesley Theological Seminary since 1992. His dynamic leadership, 
innovative approach to Judaism and reputation as an outstanding teacher 
and speaker has earned him many honors, including selection as a 
Bronfman Fellow by CLAL and as a fellow in the Shalom Hartman Institute 
Center for Rabbinic Enrichment program. In recognition of his 
outstanding leadership and community involvement, he was chosen in 2001 
as the Washington area ORT ``Man of the Year.'' He is a strong and 
vocal supporter of the State of Israel.
  I met Stuart Weinblatt when I was first running for Congress, 14 
years ago, when we were seated at the same table, by chance, at a 
dinner. I had no idea that years later I would become a member of a new 
synagogue that was opening with him at the helm. I have followed this 
man all these years, and have watched him and the synagogue grow in 
stature. His sermons are always remarkable and inspiring.
  Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Weinblatt's years of service to his community and 
the nation have enriched the lives of so many others and he is a 
stellar example of the type of individuals we need leading our 
communities. I am proud to be a congregant of Rabbi Weinblatt's 
Synagogue. I wish Rabbi Weinblatt a very happy 50th birthday and I look 
forward to his continued service as a leader in our community. I am 
proud to call him my Rabbi, and even more proud to call him my friend.

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