[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24857]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 ANNOUNCING JEWISH SOCIAL ACTION MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2005

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the goals and 
ideals of Jewish Social Action Month.
  This first annual Jewish Social Action Month, which is being held in 
conjunction with the Jewish month of Heshvan, November 3-December 1, 
2005, was conceived by Kol Dor, an international group of next-
generation young leaders. It is as a result of their vision of 
encouraging community service and social action that this important 
initiative is being undertaken around the world.
  This month and these days have been selected since they follow Rosh 
Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the holiest days in the Jewish year. Heshvan 
follows a time when all Members of the Jewish faith face ourselves, 
look inward, and cleanse ourselves of all our misdeeds. Then, it is 
during Heshvan that we look forward to the promise of the New Year.
  There is no better way to begin our New Year than by launching into a 
month-long serious effort to commit to social action. This commitment 
being made today is not a one-year-only event. Every year during the 
Jewish month of Heshvan, Jews around the world will renew our 
commitment to making this world a better place.
  Minister Michael Melchior and Member of Knesset Colette Avital 
deserve special recognition for their early and strong support for this 
concept. My Jewish colleagues and Jewish people in many other countries 
are also launching similar plans in their respective countries from 
Brazil to Britain.
  Additionally, I would also like to make special mention of Kol Dor 
and the co-chairs of Jewish Social Action Month: Adina Danzig, 
Executive Director of the Stanford Hillel; Rabbi Gidon Sylvester, 
assistant to Deputy Minister Michael Melchior; and Yosef I. Abramowitz, 
CEO of Jewish Family & Life.
  I commend the people working to make this goal a reality and urge my 
colleagues and people of all faiths to participate in community service 
and commit themselves to the principle of Tikkun Olam, to repairing the 
world.

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