PRINTER'S NO. 2694
No. 469 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BISHOP, BRENNAN,
CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, CONKLIN, DiGIROLAMO, D. EVANS, GALLOWAY,
GEORGE, GIBBONS, HESS, JOSEPHS, KULA, MANN, MANTZ,
McILHATTAN, MILLARD, MILNE, MOYER, MUNDY, MURT, MUSTIO,
MYERS, M. O'BRIEN, PARKER, PETRI, PETRONE, PHILLIPS, RAMALEY,
READSHAW, REICHLEY, SAINATO, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SHIMKUS,
M. SMITH, SURRA, SWANGER, TANGRETTI, VULAKOVICH, WALKO,
WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 22, 2007
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 22, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Honoring the Rodef Shalom Congregation located in Pittsburgh,
2 Pennsylvania, in celebration of their Sesquicentennial
3 Shabbat on October 26, 2007.
4 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives is proud to recognize
5 and celebrate important milestones of organizations who
6 contribute to the well-being of the people of this Commonwealth;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, The Rodef Shalom Congregation, or Pursuers of Peace,
9 was chartered on November 9, 1856, in Pittsburgh, to further the
10 cause of religion and the establishment of a good school in
11 which children could be instructed in the principles of Judaism
12 as well as general education; and
13 WHEREAS, The Rodef Shalom Congregation's first temple was
14 located on Hancock Street, now Eighth Street, in Pittsburgh on
15 March 20, 1862, until the temple proved too small for the
1 growing congregation; and
2 WHEREAS, The Rodef Shalom Congregation's current temple was
3 built in 1907 in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh by Henry
4 Hornbostel, merging tradition and the congregation's modern
5 approach to Judaism; and
6 WHEREAS, The Rodef Shalom Temple is a Pittsburgh historic
7 landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places of
8 the United States Department of the Interior; and
9 WHEREAS, The Rodef Shalom Congregation originally followed
10 Orthodox teachings, but voted in 1863 to become affiliated with
11 Reform Judaism; and
12 WHEREAS, In 1885, the Rodef Shalom Congregation hosted an
13 important meeting of Reform rabbis in Pittsburgh, resulting in
14 the "Pittsburgh Platform," which guided North American Reform
15 Judaism until 1937; and
16 WHEREAS, The Rodef Shalom Congregation has been in the
17 forefront of liberal Judaism and has been a leader in promoting
18 social justice and interfaith relations; and
19 WHEREAS, The Rodef Shalom Congregation has housed a series of
20 scholarly rabbis who have held leadership positions in Reform
21 Judaism and their congregants, currently under the guidance of
22 Senior Rabbi Aaron Bisno, have contributed significantly to the
23 Pittsburgh community; therefore be it
24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the Rodef
25 Shalom Congregation on their Sesquicentennial Shabbat on October
26 26, 2007; and be it further
27 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
28 the Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
29 15213.
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