Recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the Tifereth Israel Congregation of New Bedford

Floor Speech

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Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Tifereth Israel Congregation of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

As the Jewish population of New Bedford grew in the 1920s, so did the need for a new synagogue. On November 17, 1921, the Tifereth Israel Congregation was chartered and has continued to serve the Greater New Bedford area for over 100 years. The original Tifereth Israel Synagogue still stands at 42 South Sixth Street; however, in 1966, during a two- week celebration, elders of the congregation moved sacred Torahs to the newly constructed synagogue on Brownell Avenue with over 800 people attending the dedication ceremonies.

Today, the Tifereth Israel Congregation remains a pillar of the community offering a variety of programs, including Bar and Bat Mitzvah classes, the Minyan Breakfast Club, the United Youth Program, as well as the Tifereth Israel Sisterhood and Men's Club. The Tifereth Israel Congregation--currently led by Rabbi Raphael Kanter, who has served as the congregation's spiritual leader since 1997--is known for being a kind and welcoming place of worship, promoting the message of respecting all, even when beliefs may differ.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the 100th anniversary of the Tifereth Israel Congregation. I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking them for their invaluable service and wishing them all the best in the many years to come.

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