[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8920]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         RABBI BRIAN MICHELSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 19, 2006

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rabbi Brian Michelson 
of Berks County for his service to the Jewish Community Center and 
surrounding community.
  Rabbi Michelson grew up in the New York City area and went on to 
pursue a bachelor of arts degree from Franklin & Marshall College in 
Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After earning his BA, Rabbi Michelson received 
his MAHL from Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, California and then 
his Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Recently, he completed a graduate certification in Healthcare Ethics 
from Rush University.
  In 1998, along with his wife Holly and their daughters Naomi and 
Gabriella, the family moved to Reading, Pennsylvania where the Rabbi 
joined the Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom. Before moving to 
Pennsylvania, the Rabbi chose to help spread the faith in Melbourne, 
Australia.
  Rabbi Michelson is extremely active in the community. He is the Chair 
of the Chaplin's Advisory Committee of the Reading Hospital and is also 
an Associate Chaplain for the health community. Additionally, he is a 
Board member of Home Healthcare Management, serves on its Medical and 
Professional Advisory Committee, and is Vice-Chair of its Ethics 
Committee. In his quest to pursue development of interfaith relations, 
the Rabbi is also a member of the core group for the Interfaith 
Hospitality Network.
  When not working in the medical arena, the Rabbi is active in the 
Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom where he teaches adult education 
programs. He is also an instructor with the Reading Area Community 
College's Department of Continuing Education, where he teaches an 
Introduction to Judaism course.
  Rabbi Michelson's philosophy of action is to simply do what needs to 
be done. When not spending time on inter-faith and healthcare issues, 
the Rabbi manages to spend time cooking, drinking coffee, sailing, and 
watching movies.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Rabbi 
Brian Michelson for his outstanding dedication and service to the 
Jewish Community Center, the Reading Hospital, and the entire Berks 
County community.

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