Bill Text: TX SR733 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing Congregation Beth El on the occasion of its 130th anniversary.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-04 - Reported enrolled [SR733 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SR733-Enrolled.html
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| WHEREAS, For 130 years, residents of Tyler have come together | ||
| to celebrate their faith at Congregation Beth El; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Established on April 7, 1887, with 53 charter | ||
| families, the congregation initially held services at the Odd | ||
| Fellows Hall on the Square; the first temple was constructed on a | ||
| lot at the corner of College and University Streets in 1889, and | ||
| Congregation Beth El occupied another building for half a century | ||
| before moving to its present location on Charleston Drive roughly | ||
| 30 years ago; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The current sanctuary is home to four sacred Torah | ||
| scrolls, including one that was originally housed in a Czech | ||
| temple before being seized by the Nazis during the World War II | ||
| era; the campus also features a social hall and an educational | ||
| space, where members can take part in such programs as an adult | ||
| study group and a religious instruction class for children; and | ||
| WHEREAS, During its early years, Beth El was led by lay | ||
| people or by the occasional itinerant rabbi; in 1900, the | ||
| congregation hired its first full-time rabbi, Maurice Faber, and | ||
| it has since benefited from the efforts of a number of dedicated | ||
| members of the clergy, including Rabbi Neal Katz, who has served | ||
| the temple for the past 14 years; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Dedicated to their community, Beth El members | ||
| have generously shared their time and energies with the Tyler Day | ||
| Nursery, the East Texas Food Bank, the Hospice of East Texas, and | ||
| myriad other nonprofit organizations; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Congregation Beth El has long served as a source | ||
| of inspiration and guidance to those who worship there, and its | ||
| continued existence is a testament to the unwavering commitment | ||
| of its members and clergy, both past and present; now, therefore, | ||
| be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th | ||
| Legislature, hereby commemorate the 130th anniversary of | ||
| Congregation Beth El and extend to its members sincere best | ||
| wishes for many more years of shared prayer and fellowship; and, | ||
| be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the | ||
| congregation as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. | ||
| Hughes | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| President of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that the | ||
| above Resolution was adopted by | ||
| the Senate on May 4, 2017. | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
