[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15762]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING CONGREGATION AHAVATH SHOLOM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2012

  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Congregation Ahavath 
Sholom for its 120 years of dedication to the Fort Worth community. 
Congregation Ahavath Sholom was established in 1892, and is the oldest 
Jewish congregation in Fort Worth, Texas.
  Led by Rabbi Andrew Bloom and Cantor Shoshana Abrams, this 
Conservative Congregation holds a deep commitment to Tikkun Olam, 
repairing of the world. Through inter-faith programs and outreach, 
Congregation Ahavath Sholom acts upon this commitment.
  For many years the congregation has collected food for the Tarrant 
County Food Bank on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. 
This year, Congregation Ahavath Sholom is holding its 2nd Annual 
Community-wide Chanukah Candle Lighting in which the City of Fort Worth 
has joined as an official sponsor. Mayor Betsy Price and I will serve 
as honorary candle lighters.
  Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of 
the Temple in Jerusalem after the Jewish victory over an oppressive 
army of Syrians and Greeks in 165 B.C.E., who had not allowed the 
Jewish people to live or worship freely. This Festival celebrates the 
freedom of religion, culture and self-determination that God has 
granted to all human beings--a founding principle of our country.
  Congregation Ahavath Sholom participated in Mayor Betsy Price's 
``Connect with the Community'' program on October 25th. During the 
ceremony, the Congregation was honored for its participation in the 
Tarrant Area Community of Churches and Fort Worth Housing Authority's 
``Clean for Quarters'' program--a program allowing those who were 
formerly homeless to have clean clothes ready for job interviews and 
work assignments.
  Through Rabbi Bloom's involvement and leadership, the congregation 
has enjoyed new initiatives in the areas of pluralism and cultural 
diversity in collaboration with the Fort Worth Intermediate School 
District, and has worked to foster greater understanding between faiths 
with its neighboring churches, the Brite Divinity School and Texas 
Christian University.

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