[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8553]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING RABBI MICHAEL ZEDEK

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 10, 2016

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Rabbi Michael Zedek, 
who has retired after being the spiritual leader since 2004 at Emanuel 
Congregation in the 9th Congressional District of Illinois. He will be 
missed. Rabbi Zedek is a true community leader and has brought 
neighbors together, fostered open-mindedness and embraced the 
incredible diversity of our community.
  Ordained in June 1974, Rabbi Zedek was chosen to be alumnus-in-
residence at the Cincinnati and Los Angeles campuses of Hebrew Union 
College. Rabbi Zedek is the youngest man to receive this honor.
  He served as CEO of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and as the 
spiritual leader of Congregation B'nai Jehudah in Kansas City, Missouri 
for 26 years, where he holds the title of Rabbi Emeritus. During his 
tenure, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati received national awards 
for innovative fundraising and programming. Prior to his service at the 
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, Rabbi Zedek was the senior rabbi of 
Temple B'nai Jehudah in Kansas City, Missouri where he served for many 
years.
  Rabbi Zedek is a truly dedicated community activist, scholar, and 
teacher. He is deeply involved in civic affairs having served on a 
number of national and international boards. He has also had numerous 
teaching and speaking appointments around the world on a wide range of 
topics, especially focusing on spirituality and folklore. He has taught 
and lectured in South Africa, Russia, China, the former Yugoslavia, and 
Israel and in many other countries.
  He received a Danforth Graduate Fellowship for outstanding teaching, 
a Fulbright-Hays Grant for advanced study in the United Kingdom, and is 
a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hamilton College, Clinton, New York. He 
will still speak internationally on spirituality and folklore and 
remain a regular presenter at Rancho La Puerta, a spirituality and 
retreat center, in Tecate, Mexico. He also serves as the host of a 
radio show, ``Religion on the Line,'' which has been on the air for 
more than 20 years. I thank Rabbi Zedek for his leadership and service.
  I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring Rabbi Zedek for the 
work he has done for his congregation, the community, the 9th 
Congressional District and beyond. We thank him for his invaluable 
service, and wish him well in all future endeavors.

                          ____________________