Rabbi Hillel Cohn
Congregation Emanu El
San Bernardino, CA
Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Jerry Lewis, (R-CA)
Date of Prayer: 03/21/2001
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to introduce to my colleagues an old friend, Hillel Cohn , who is about to retire as rabbi of Congregation Emanu El in San Bernardino, California. Not too long ago, in a community meeting, Rabbi Cohn approached me and said, ‘‘Jerry, I understand we're going to have a wedding.'' Thereby he was announcing to me that, not too long after that, he was marrying two of my now young children, not so young children.
Hillel is a UCLA graduate. He got his Ph.D. at the divinity school at Claremont College. He came to San Bernardino to lead this congregation in 1963. Our community has been blessed by his service. He has been involved in virtually every organization of any moment to San Bernardino, California, as well as the surrounding communities. His leadership indeed has had a huge impact, ranging from our commission that involves human affairs that attempts to provide balance and strength within our community. He has been a leader within the religious community, obviously, but most importantly he has used his extra time, that volunteer time, to touch every aspect of our life. His service upon his retirement will only increase, I am assured.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you my friend, Rabbi Hillel Cohn .
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Thousands of years ago, in setting down the fundamental requirements for any community, the Torah charged:
"Tsedek, tsedek tirdof":
"Justice, justice shall you pursue."
Appreciating the importance of justice, the Founders of this Nation envisioned an America that would guarantee "liberty and justice for all."
O God, strengthen the resolve of those who serve here to make the decisions as well as the processes leading to those decisions genuinely just. Let America pursue justice in our enforcement of laws, in our forms of punishment, in our methods of choosing our leaders, in our allocation of precious resources, in our expectations of other nations, and in our daily relations with one another.
Praised be the Eternal God, the Sovereign, who loves justice and expects us to pursue justice, uncompromising and true justice. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory