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2016 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 71
Commending Temple Emanuel.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 15, 2016
Agreed to by the Senate, January 21, 2016

 

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.