HR0939 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0939 LRB102 28996 ECR 40896 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Moses Montefiore Congregation is one of the oldest Jewish congregations in continual operation in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Moses Montefiore Congregation was formed in May of 1882 at the downtown Bloomington B'Nai B'rith Hall; and

WHEREAS, Moses Montefiore Congregation's first service was held on Rosh Hashanah in 1882; and

WHEREAS, The early members of Moses Montefiore Congregation raised funds to erect a temple; at a meeting held on April 6, 1883, Maik Livingston offered a donation of $100 toward the building of the temple provided the congregation was named after Sir Moses Montefiore, who was a Jewish philanthropist living in England; the offer was accepted, and the first temple building was completed in 1889; and

WHEREAS, As Moses Montefiore Congregation grew larger, a new building was required; the new building, located at 102 Robinhood Lane in Bloomington, was completed in 1959, and the congregation has remained at this location since then; and

WHEREAS, Moses Montefiore Congregation has served the Jewish population in Central Illinois for 140 years; its members have been active participants and leaders in the Bloomington/Normal area, including public service as a mayor of Bloomington, as McLean County Board members, and as circuit court judges; Sigmund Livingston, who grew up in Bloomington, was one of the founders of the Anti-Defamation League, and many members have been deeply involved in social justice activities; early members were merchants, physicians, and lawyers; and

WHEREAS, Moses Montefiore Congregation supports a religious school and the Jewish Cemetery, which has been in existence since 1856; for more than 50 years, the congregation held a Jewish Food Fair, which was widely appreciated by the larger community of Bloomington/Normal, and it also offers cultural and education programs to its members and to the community at large; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Moses Montefiore Congregation for 140 years of service to families and communities in central Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Moses Montefiore Congregation as part of its anniversary celebration.