[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16217]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF TEMPLE BETH-EL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 26, 2011

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 
congratulate Temple Beth-El in Munster, Indiana, as its congregation 
joins together in celebration of its 100th Anniversary. To celebrate 
this Centennial, members will hold a celebratory reception at Temple 
Beth-El on October 29, 2011.
  Truly, Temple Beth-El has had a long and dynamic history in the 
Calumet Region's Jewish Community. When it was first established in 
1911, Temple Beth-El served as a modest Reform Congregation, holding 
its services in a rented building in Hammond, Indiana. In fact, for a 
short time after World War One, Temple Beth-El briefly came to share 
its rental property with fellow Temple, Knesseth Israel. However, in 
1925, the Temple was finally able to purchase its own location, the W. 
B. Conkey Mansion in Hammond, Indiana, where they remained until 1955. 
The congregation later moved to 6947 Hohmann Avenue, also located in 
Hammond, where it remained for 41 years. Due to the changing needs of 
its congregation, the Temple eventually sold its Hammond property to 
move to Munster, Indiana on August 15, 1999. Conducting a ``Torah 
Walk,'' they marched their Torahs from their old property in Hammond to 
their new building at 10001 Columbia Avenue, in Munster, where they are 
soon to celebrate their rich, hundred-year history. Currently, the 
members of Temple Beth-El can be proud of a Reform congregation of over 
200 households, an ample facility featuring a sanctuary, classrooms, a 
kitchen, and library, as well as an admirable dedication to community 
service programs, in which members passionately serve those in need 
throughout the community. Additionally, Temple Beth-El recently helped 
to sponsor the inspirational exhibit, ``A Fine Romance: Jewish 
Songwriters, American Songs, 1910-1965,'' which was on display at the 
Munster Center for Visual and Performing Arts until October 20, 2011, 
and will be visiting 55 sites throughout the United States in 2011 and 
2012.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues 
join me in honoring and congratulating Temple Beth-El of Munster, 
Indiana, on its 100th Anniversary. Through the years, the members of 
Temple Beth-El have dedicated themselves to preserving the traditions 
and spiritual beliefs of Reform Judaism. For their dedicated service, 
and for touching the lives of countless individuals, they are worthy of 
our highest praise.

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