[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15642]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      WELCOMING IMAM HAMAD CHEBLI

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Holt) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming 
Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli, the Imam of the Islamic Society of Central 
Jersey in South Brunswick, New Jersey. Imam Chebli has been both a 
friend and an ambassador of Islam to me and many others in New Jersey, 
and we are all honored that his prayer has opened this session of 
Congress.
  Imam Chebli is a native of Lebanon and attended one of the most 
prestigious Islamic institutions in the world, Al-Azhar University in 
Cairo, Egypt, where he received his master's in Islamic Canonical Law. 
He has been the religious leader of ISCJ since 1986, where he makes 
Muslims and non-Muslims feel welcome.
  The depth of his faith and scholarship, his commanding dignity, and 
the warmth of his personality make him the most prominent and 
attractive figure of Islam in our region. In a period where the public 
understanding of Islam has grown greatly, we are fortunate to have Imam 
Chebli in our community.
  He has worked hard to build interfaith dialogue and public 
understanding, serving as a member of the North and South Brunswick 
Diversity Committee and of the regional clergy association. Most 
recently, New Jersey's Governor appointed Imam Chebli to the Governor's 
Leadership Summit on Diversity.
  He and I have a friendship and association that has lasted many 
years, especially since September 2001, and I greatly value our 
friendship.
  Imam Chebli is the proud husband of Mona Rich, and he is the loving 
father of their six children; Ahmad, Muhammad, Maryam, Mahmood, Khalid, 
and Marwa; and the loving grandfather to seven grandchildren.
  Through his inspiring prayer this morning, we can all gain wisdom and 
guidance.

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