| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 1033 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The Texas Historical Commission has recognized the |
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| 6 | 6 | | Congregation Beth Israel Cemetery in Houston as a Historic Texas |
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| 7 | 7 | | Cemetery, and the membership is celebrating this honor with the |
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| 8 | 8 | | dedication of a historical marker on April 26, 2009; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The cemetery was established in 1844, and a decade |
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| 10 | 10 | | later, 22 local citizens founded Hebrew Congregation Beth Israel, |
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| 11 | 11 | | the first Jewish congregation in Texas; the Jewish population of |
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| 12 | 12 | | Houston grew dramatically, along with the city, in the 20th |
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| 13 | 13 | | century, and in order to meet the needs of its burgeoning |
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| 14 | 14 | | membership, Beth Israel constructed new synagogues in 1908, 1925, |
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| 15 | 15 | | and 1967; the latter facility, renovated and expanded in the early |
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| 16 | 16 | | 21st century, continues to serve the congregation today; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Beth Israel marked a special milestone in 2004 with |
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| 18 | 18 | | the celebration of its sesquicentennial; the synagogue currently |
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| 19 | 19 | | serves more than 1,700 families and is led by Senior Rabbi David |
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| 20 | 20 | | Lyon; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | WHEREAS, The Congregation Beth Israel Cemetery is the resting |
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| 22 | 22 | | place for individuals who shaped the city in ways both great and |
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| 23 | 23 | | small, and the volunteers who have researched and documented this |
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| 24 | 24 | | burial ground and those who have supported them in that effort have |
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| 25 | 25 | | performed a truly valuable service; now, therefore, be it |
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| 26 | 26 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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| 27 | 27 | | Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of a Historic Texas |
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| 28 | 28 | | Cemetery marker at the Congregation Beth Israel Cemetery and extend |
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| 29 | 29 | | to all those involved with this project sincere appreciation for |
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| 30 | 30 | | their commitment to preserving the heritage of the Lone Star State; |
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| 31 | 31 | | and, be it further |
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| 32 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 33 | 33 | | prepared for Congregation Beth Israel as an expression of high |
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| 34 | 34 | | regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 35 | 35 | | Cohen |
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| 36 | 36 | | ______________________________ |
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| 37 | 37 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 38 | 38 | | I certify that H.R. No. 1033 was adopted by the House on April |
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| 39 | 39 | | 2, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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| 40 | 40 | | ______________________________ |
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| 41 | 41 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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