{"database": "openregs", "table": "congressional_record", "rows": [["CREC-1994-10-08-pt1-PgE46", "1994-10-08", 103, 2, null, null, "GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OF BETH CHAVERIM, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA", "HOUSE", "EXTENSIONS", "FRONTMATTER", "E", "E", "[{\"name\": \"Owen B. Pickett\", \"role\": \"speaking\"}]", null, "140 Cong. Rec. E", "Congressional Record, Volume 140 Issue 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)\n\n[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]\n[Extensions of Remarks]\n[Page E]\nFrom the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]\n\n[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]\nFrom the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]\n\n      GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OF BETH CHAVERIM, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA\n\n                                 ______\n\n                          HON. OWEN B. PICKETT\n\n                              of virginia\n\n                    in the house of representatives\n\n                        Friday, October 7, 1994\n\n  Mr. PICKETT. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure I share with my\ndistinguished colleagues the comments of Rabbi Israel Zoberman at the\nGroundbreaking Ceremony of Beth Chaverim, the Reform Jewish\nCongregation of Virginia Beach, VA, held September 18, 1994.\n  Our God, Our Guide, Our Glory, Cherished Friends and Distinguished\nGuests, ``Indeed, this is the beautiful day the Lord has made for us,\nlet us rejoice in it.'' Our cup of joy runneth over as we have gathered\nat this sacred season on our land of promise, this field of dreams, to\ngive thanks for having reached a historic milestone.\n  This significant celebration has been made possible through the\nheroic spirit of our beloved Beth Chaverim that has grown from a few\nvisionary and courageous souls, 12 years ago, to a proud congregation\nof about 250 family units. We are here due to the steadfast and zealous\nlabor of love of its members along with the extraordinary welcome and\ngenerosity of the remarkable Church of the Ascension that has been our\nloving home for the past 9 years, allowing us to flourish.\n  The unique and incredible interfaith drama which since 1986 is the\nonly such between Catholics and Jews anywhere, has received local,\nnational, and international attention, adding to the noble cause of\nshalom in a changing world. I remain the grateful rabbi of 1,300\nCatholic families, an increase of 500 since our arrival.\n  Father Bill Dale watched over us so very devotedly all this time and\nFather Jim Parke, who replaced him recently, continues so tenderly to\nbefriend us. Thank you Bishop Sullivan, who wanted but could not be\nwith us today, for all you have meant to us. What an understanding\nlandlord we have in you. We pledge not to forget a kindness that comes\nfrom deep within the heart. Together we shall build upon our common\nbond, allies in the divine pursuit to create a better world, offering\nthe gift of healing, wholeness and harmony.\n  Standing before you in awe and trembling is the son of the saved\nremnant of European Jewry, born in Kazakhstan to Polish Holocaust\nsurvivors, living his tender years in a German Displaced Persons Camp\nand proudly raised in the State of Israel, our Zion restored. I confess\nto my profound conviction that the God of our martyred people led met\nto be the founding rabbi of a new synagogue in a generation that has\nwitnessed both our people's demise and rebirth.\n  Beth Chaverim was led into the heart of our beloved city of Virginia\nBeach to grow with it on these precious American shores of freedom and\nhope for humanity. It is good to be in a friendly neighborhood. All we\nseek is to be a blessing; unto ourselves and unto the gracious Jewish\nand general community of Hampton Roads.\n  Without Jennifer, my faithful helpmate for 25 years, and our children\nRachel and Harel, I would'nt have come thus far.\n  ``We praise You O Lord our God, master of the universe, who has kept\nus alive, has sustained and enabled us to reach this miraculous\noccasion.'' Let us say Amen.\n\n                          ____________________"]], "columns": ["granule_id", "date", "congress", "session", "volume", "issue", "title", "chamber", "granule_class", "sub_granule_class", "page_start", "page_end", "speakers", "bills", "citation", "full_text"], "primary_keys": ["granule_id"], "primary_key_values": ["CREC-1994-10-08-pt1-PgE46"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.3669720608741045, "source": "Federal Register API & Regulations.gov API", "source_url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/developers/api/v1", "license": "Public Domain (U.S. Government data)", "license_url": "https://www.regulations.gov/faq"}