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2016 SESSION
WHEREAS, in 2015, Temple Emanuel, the only Reform Judaism congregation in the Roanoke area, celebrated 125 years of spiritual leadership, joyful worship, and generous outreach to the community; and
WHEREAS, established by a group of 18 families in a home on Henry Street, Temple Emanuel traces its earliest roots to 1889 and was officially organized soon thereafter; Roanoke’s second major synagogue, Beth Israel, formed after a split with Temple Emanuel in the 1900s; and
WHEREAS, in 1937, Temple Emanuel erected its first building on McClanahan Place, where the synagogue served the community for two decades; in 1959, the current house of worship was built on Persinger Road to better serve the growing congregation; and
WHEREAS, by 2015, the congregation of Temple Emanuel had grown to include more than 165 families, representing a wide swath of the Southwest Virginia community, with some individuals traveling up to an hour to attend services each week; and
WHEREAS, Temple Emanuel takes its name from a Hebrew word meaning God is with us, and the congregation is committed to the concept of Tikkun Olam, a belief that one has an obligation to work to make society better as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the Temple Emanuel congregation is active in the community through volunteerism and support for social justice; members of the synagogue collect items for Family Promise of Greater Roanoke, an interfaith organization that provides temporary housing and support for the homeless; and
WHEREAS, the members of Temple Emanuel commemorated the synagogue’s 125th anniversary with a three-day celebration, featuring a special Shabbat service, musical performances, and other events, in November 2015; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Temple Emanuel on the occasion of its 125th anniversary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Temple Emanuel as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for its long history and legacy of service to the Roanoke community.