[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13706]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       WELCOMING RABBI GUTTERMAN

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise to thank and commend Senator 
Whitehouse for inviting Rabbi Leslie Gutterman here to deliver the 
prayer.
  Les Gutterman has been an extraordinary figure in our State, a man of 
great wisdom, compassion and kindness, who has, since 1970, contributed 
extraordinarily to the State of Rhode Island and to the people of Rhode 
Island.
  His congregation goes far beyond denominational lines. He is 
literally the rabbi for everyone. In fact, he is my rabbi, and I am 
pleased and proud to say that.
  Mr. President, again, I am delighted to welcome Rabbi Gutterman here 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, it is a great honor and a great 
pleasure to join my senior Senator Jack Reed in welcoming Rabbi Leslie 
Gutterman from Providence, RI, here onto the Senate floor to open the 
Senate on this day by leading us in prayer.
  Rabbi Gutterman is a personal friend, but he is more than that. He is 
a person of real significance in the Rhode Island community. He has 
served as the rabbi of Temple Beth El for 40 years, which means he has 
officiated at the weddings of the children of people whose bar mitzvahs 
at which he officiated, and he has officiated at the bar mitzvahs of 
the grandchildren of people whose weddings at which he officiated. He 
is an important part of the Rhode Island community. He has been 
described as a community asset and a moral compass for Rhode Island. In 
addition, he is just a beautiful person.
  He and his wife Janet have come here today to join us, and we are 
very proud and delighted that we could share this moment of the morning 
with our colleagues and with Rabbi Gutterman.
  I yield the floor back to the majority leader with great pride in the 
presence of Rabbi Gutterman on our floor this morning.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader is recognized.

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