[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18400]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO RABBI AMY RADER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 15, 2006

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize today Rabbi Amy 
Rader, who eloquently delivered yesterday's opening prayer. Rabbi 
Rader's historic prayer, the second opening prayer led by a female 
Rabbi in the history of the House of Representative represents a 
significant moment for the American Jewish community. Rabbi Rader, an 
Associate Rabbi at Temple B'nai Torah in Boca Raton is a prominent and 
proud member of the South Florida Jewish community. Whether directing 
the B'nai Mitzvah Program, or coordinating the Judaic curriculum of the 
Early Childhood Center, Rabbi Rader's dedication to her congregation 
and community makes her an extremely worthy choice to lead this 
morning's prayer.
  Rabbi Rader enjoys increased prominence in the Conservative movement 
and was a recipient of the prestigious Rabbi Simon Greenberg Rabbinic 
Leadership Award by the Jewish Theological Seminary. She was admitted 
to the innovative rabbinic leadership development program, Professional 
Education and Excellence for Rabbis, which is sponsored by the 
Synagogue Transformation and Renewal.
  Rabbi Rader studied at the Schechter Institute of Judaic Studies in 
Jerusalem and the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, and was 
ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City 
in 1999. Rabbi Rader also serve as the rabbi for the Lakeland Hills 
Jewish Center in Ringwood, New Jersey, was a fellow at the National 
Jewish Healing Center in New York City, and was the first Jewish 
chaplain at Methodist Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, her hometown.
  I am pleased to recognize Rabbi Rader's husband, Kevin, and their 
four children: Caleb, Ruby, Yael and Ezra. In her six years in the Boca 
Raton and South Florida communities, Rabbi Rader has wonderfully 
balanced her service to the community with her devotion to her family 
and she is a model for us all to emulate.

                          ____________________