[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19726]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              350TH ANNIVERSARY OF JEWISH LIFE IN AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE CHABOT

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2005

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, in 2003, along with our former colleague 
Congressman Rob Portman, I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 106, 
recognizing the 350th anniversary of Jewish communal life in North 
America. H. Con. Res. 106 was adopted by unanimous vote. An identical 
resolution was introduced in the other body by Senators DeWine and 
Voinovich and was adopted as well.
  Today, I would like to insert in the Congressional Record a 
Rabbinical Resolution issued by the Presidents of the Central 
Conference of American Rabbis, the Rabbinical Assembly, the Rabbinical 
Council of America, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association 
commemorating the 350th anniversary of Jewish life in America and 
proclaiming the period from September 2004 to September 2005 ``to be 
one of special thanksgiving, prayer, study, reflection and 
celebration.''
  The resolution follows.

            Celebrate 350--Jewish Life in America, 1654-2004

       Let it be known that in Elul 5764 (September 2004) the 
     Jewish community of the United States began a year long 
     commemoration marking the 350th Anniversary of Jewish 
     settlement in this country.
       With the help of God and under the protection of the 
     Constitution of the United States, we have lived and 
     prospered in this land. We have been an integral part of 
     American life. We have worked with all other Americans in the 
     never-ending effort to keep secure the democratic way of 
     life. Our ancient prophetic ideals and the teachings of our 
     sages serve as cornerstones of this nation's values. Our 
     work, our hopes, and above all, our living religion have been 
     among our proudest offerings to the American community.
       In some lands across the seas the Jewish people have felt 
     the searing flame of prejudice, persecution and death. The 
     American Jew has had the sad yet inspiring opportunity to 
     bring comfort to the oppressed, the joyous opportunity to 
     participate in the reconstitution of the Jewish state on the 
     ancient soil of Israel, and the inescapable and ennobling 
     responsibility to mend the broken places in our world.
       Even as we have worked for the well-being of our people 
     abroad, the Jewish people in America have struggled to 
     preserve our noble heritage, our historic traditions, our 
     ancient teachings, our ethics, and our spiritual ideals in 
     the free climate of our nation.
       Mindful of our manifold blessings and with deep gratitude 
     in our hearts to the God of Israel, Who, in 1954, led our 
     forebears to the shores of this great new land,
       We have proclaimed the period from Elul 5764 (September 
     2004) through Elul 5765 (September 2005) to be one of special 
     thanksgiving, prayer, study, reflection and celebration to 
     mark the 350th Anniversary of Jewish Communal Life in 
     America.
       We call on all American Jewry to participate in the 
     observance of this anniversary; to thank God for the 
     bountiful blessings that have been bestowed on us in this 
     remarkable land. Let us express our collective hope that 
     peace, security, and prosperity will reign in our nation for 
     all. May the principles of freedom and liberty that have been 
     the lodestar values of this great Republic continue to 
     radiate their blessings on our nation.
     Rabbi Harry Danziger,
       President, Central Conference of American Rabbis.
     Rabbi Perry Raphael Rank,
       President, Rabbinical Assembly.
     Rabbi Dale Polakoff,
       President, Rabbinical Council of America.
     Rabbi Brant Rosen,
       President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.

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