[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11984]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING RABBI MICHAEL DATZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RAY LaHOOD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 2005

  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments 
and services of Rabbi Michael Datz of Springfield, Illinois for his 
thirteen years of spiritual guidance and leadership.
  Rabbi Datz draws on his extraordinary life experiences to provide 
insight to his congregation at the Temple B'rith Sholom. He has lived 
in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Australia, as well, his birth-
state of Texas. Yet, the community of Springfield is of profound 
importance to him. His extensive involvement in numerous religious and 
civic community organizations greatly benefits his adopted home. He is 
a board member of the Springfield Board of Jewish Education, the 
Springfield Jewish Federation, the Central Illinois Food Bank, the 
Springfield Liturgical Arts Council, the Greater Springfield Interfaith 
Association, and he is Chairman of the Dept. of Community Relations of 
the City of Springfield. In addition to being a dedicated servant of 
the community, the rabbi is a lawyer, a children's author, a husband, 
and a father of two.
  Yet above and beyond these accomplishments, the people who know the 
rabbi best testify that his courage and his sense of humor are traits 
that make him an excellent community leader. The people of Springfield 
and the members of the Temple B'rith Sholom are pleased and honored to 
have Rabbi Michael Datz as a servant of their community, and I am 
pleased to honor him on the occasion of a special dinner in recognition 
of his service.

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