[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17313]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING RABBI SOLOMON SCHIFF

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2006

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor Rabbi Solomon 
Schiff on the occasion of his retirement as Director of the Greater 
Miami Jewish Federation's Community Chaplaincy Service, and as 
executive vice president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater 
Miami. The entire South Florida community has benefited from his more 
than 40 years of outstanding community service.
  Rabbi Schiff has become one of the most recognizable members of the 
south Florida Jewish community, and his tremendous influence extends 
far beyond the Jewish people. As a spiritual advisor, an interfaith 
liaison, and a dedicated community leader, he has truly touched the 
lives of countless individuals representing all religious persuasions 
and backgrounds. Anyone having met Rabbi Schiff can attest to his love 
of his fellow man, his desire to make the world a kinder and gentler 
place, and his ability to bring people of all faiths and political 
persuasions together.
  Rabbi Schiff has been called upon several times to offer prayers both 
in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In 1992, President 
George H. W. Bush appointed Rabbi Schiff to serve on the ``We Will 
Rebuild Committee.'' This committee helped restore the areas in south 
Florida that were severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew. Lawton Chiles, 
the late Governor of Florida, appointed Rabbi Schiff to serve on a task 
force to examine the problems of the homeless. Thanks to that task 
force, two new homeless assistance centers were created in Miami-Dade 
County alone. More recently, Florida Governor Jeb Bush invited Rabbi 
Schiff to serve on his Faith-Based Advisory Board.
  Rabbi Schiff is known and admired for treating everyone with equal 
dignity and respect. He has always found time in his schedule to visit 
as many in need as possible, from ill hospital patients to the 
homeless. His spiritual guidance is an enduring legacy to the countless 
individuals he has encountered throughout his career.
  Although Rabbi Schiff has won numerous awards, and has served on many 
local and national committees, the greatest honor he has ever received 
is the love and support of his family. He and his wife, Shirley, have 
three grown sons, Elliot, Jeffrey and Steven, and they are the proud 
grandparents of seven grandchildren. I wish him well as he begins this 
new chapter in his life, and we all celebrate his many remarkable 
achievements.

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