[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3039-3040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF CONGREGATION SHERITH ISRAEL'S HISTORIC 
                           SANCTUARY BUILDING

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to 
recognize the 100th Anniversary of Congregation Sherith Israel's 
historic sanctuary building in the City of San Francisco in my home 
State of California.
  Congregation Sherith Israel, established in 1849, is one of the 
oldest Reform congregations in the West. Reform Judaism spread 
throughout North America more than 130 years ago and is now the largest 
Jewish movement in North America, with more than 900 congregations and 
1.5 million people.
  Congregation Sherith Israel's synagogue building is located at the 
corner of California and Webster Streets in San Francisco. This year 
marks the centennial of this historic building, whose cornerstone was 
laid on February 22, 1904. The building was designed by renowned Bay 
Area architect Albert Pissis, who was an important figure in the 
rebuilding of downtown San Francisco after the city's most famous 
disaster, the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906.
  The 1906 Earthquake and Fire left the city in smoking ruins and 
destroyed many public structures. Congregation Sherith Israel's 
synagogue withstood this disaster and was able to house many important 
events following the destruction. The building served as the city's 
Superior Court for more than 2 years and, in 1945, hosted one of the 
organizing sessions of the United Nations.
  Today, this unique building has an austere exterior which hides a 
lavish and ornamental interior, complete with the finest stained glass, 
pews of rare Honduran mahogany, polished marble floors and beautifully 
detailed painted walls and ceilings. The synagogue is home to a working 
original Murray M. Harris Company organ. Harris was the pioneer Los 
Angeles organ builder who is generally regarded as ``the Father of 
Organbuilding in the West.'' The chapel also contains Congregation 
Sherith Israel's original Holy Ark, built in 1970.
  The blue-grey dome of the synagogue, taller than the dome of San 
Francisco City Hall, is touted as one of the highest in the city. The 
dome, visible from many vistas around San Francisco, is a wonderful 
reminder of this building's history and importance to San Francisco. 
Congregation Sherith Israel's sanctuary building also continues to 
represent the spiritual strength, diversity and pioneer spirit of San 
Francisco's Jewish community. A hallmark of Reform Judaism is ``tikkun 
olam,'' or repairing the world, a desire to bring peace, freedom, and 
justice to all people. Congregation Sherith Israel is a wonderful 
example of tikkun olam in the San Francisco Bay Area.
  I am very pleased to recognize this beautiful and historic building. 
I hope the people of San Francisco and the members of Congregation 
Sherith Israel continue to enjoy this building for many more 
years.

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