[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9993-9994]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 PAYING TRIBUTE TO RABBI SANDY EISENBERG SASSO FOR 36 YEARS OF SERVICE 
                     TO THE INDIANAPOLIS COMMUNITY

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2014

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Rabbi Sandy Sasso for her 36 years of service to the Indianapolis 
community. The people of the Fifth Congressional District and the 
entire City of Indianapolis are forever grateful for Rabbi Sasso's 
nearly 4 decades of community leadership and spiritual guidance.
  Over the years, Rabbi Sasso's leadership has been a critical part of 
so many people's religious journey. Her dedication in guiding 
Congregation Beth-El Zedeck is a model for community and religious 
leaders everywhere. As the first female to be ordained from the 
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Rabbi Sasso has been a 
trailblazer for women of faith all over the country. Her journey proves 
to young women everywhere that through hard work and discipline, their 
dreams can become reality.

[[Page 9994]]

  Rabbi Sasso's path to becoming an accomplished theologian wasn't 
without critics. Many thought that the traditional role of men in the 
rabbinate should be upheld. However, Rabbi Sasso never let the 
naysayers deter her from fulfilling a lifelong dream. After completing 
both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Temple University, she 
continued to relentlessly pursue her goal, eventually becoming just the 
second female ever to be ordained in the United States.
  However, Rabbi Sasso's accomplishments are not just limited to her 
admirable work in the synagogue. She is also a mother, an award-winning 
children's book author, a major organizer for the Indianapolis Spirit 
and Place Festival, and so much more. While her time as the leader of 
Beth-El Zedeck may be coming to a close, I am certain that her tenure 
as a pillar in the Indianapolis community is nowhere near its end.
  On behalf of the grateful constituents of Indiana's Fifth 
Congressional District, I congratulate Rabbi Sasso on the occasion of 
her retirement. Thank you, Rabbi, for your decades of dedicated 
leadership with Beth-El Zedeck. Best wishes to you as you pursue new 
challenges in the many bright years ahead of you.

                          ____________________