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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate B'nai B'rith 
4International on the occasion of its 175th anniversary; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith was founded on the lower east side of 
6New York to improve the lives of new Jewish immigrants to 
7America; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith is the oldest service organization 
9founded in the United States and has an unparalleled  record of 
10aiding humanity in  communities throughout the United States and 
11several dozen nations around the world; and
 
12    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith has provided over $100 million in 
13cash, medical equipment, and supplies to victims of disasters 
14worldwide since 1865; and
 
15    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith is a strong and vocal advocate for 
16the State of Israel and has had an active presence in Israel 
17since 1888; and
 
18    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith has an active presence as a NGO at 
19the United Nations since its founding, and is the only Jewish 
20NGO with full-time representation at the United  Nations in New 
 
 
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1York and its agencies in Europe and Latin America; and
 
2    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith is the largest national Jewish 
3sponsor of federally-funded housing for seniors with limited 
4income; the organization provides safe, comfortable, and 
5affordable housing for seniors without regard for race, 
6religion, and ethnicity and has an international network of 
7senior living facilities; and
 
8    WHEREAS, B'nai  B'rith is widely acclaimed as a forceful 
9advocate for senior citizens with a special emphasis on 
10protecting Social Security and Medicare and in supporting 
11access to quality health care and funding for the aging 
12services network and minimum wage; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith has a long history of promoting 
14cultural diversity, inclusion, and understanding, via 
15grassroots education projects such as the Diverse Minds Writing 
16Challenge, where high school students write and illustrate 
17children's books, to help teach them the values of inclusion 
18and diversity; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith volunteers are active in their local 
20communities, providing countless hours of service to projects 
21to better the communities in which they live; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, The past B'nai B'rith International President, 
2Mr. Allan J. Jacobs, is a resident of Lake Forest; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Mr. Sheldon Marcus presently serves as Senior Vice 
4President of B'nai B'rith International and is a resident of 
5Morton Grove; therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare October 13, 
82018 as "B'nai B'rith Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it 
9further
  
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
11presented to B'nai B'rith International as a symbol of our 
12respect and esteem.