81R36639 BPG-D
By: Edwards H.R. No. 2867
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff of Houston has faithfully
served the spiritual needs of his community and enriched the lives
of countless residents since establishing Chabad Lubavitch of Texas
in 1972; and
WHEREAS, Headquartered in New York, Chabad Lubavitch is the
largest Jewish organization in the world, with more than 3,000
branches that promote spiritual awareness, knowledge, and practice
through outreach, education, and social services; Rabbi Lazaroff
has facilitated the growth of Chabad branches and activities
throughout Texas, and he established Chabad Houses in College
Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Plano, San Antonio, Sugar
Land, South Padre Island, and Austin, as well as Houston; among
other services, these centers provide day schools and camps,
educational resources, and prison chaplaincy; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Lazaroff serves as the state's regional
director for Texas Friends of Chabad Lubavitch and as the executive
director of the Chabad Lubavitch Center in Houston, which includes
a synagogue, the Torah Day School of Houston, Chabad Hebrew School,
camp, and other educational and cultural programs; in addition, he
is a member of the board and executive committee of the
international Chabad organization in Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, Born in the former Soviet Union, Rabbi Lazaroff was
educated in Paris, France, before earning a scholarship to study at
the Chabad Talmudical Academy in Israel; in 1958, he moved to New
York City and attended the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva Tomchei
Temimim; he received ordination from the Central Lubavitcher
Yeshiva and following two years of postgraduate work, this
exceptional scholar was ordained a rabbinical judge; he served in
important leadership roles in the Lubavitch Youth Organization
before arriving in Texas in 1972; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Lazaroff, a devoted family man, is supported
in all his endeavors by his wife, Rebbetzin Chiena Lazaroff, and
their 11 children; this esteemed spiritual leader's faith,
scholarship, and many good works have been a source of profound
inspiration to innumerable Texans for more than three decades, and
his accomplishments have made a lasting and positive difference in
communities across the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff and extend to him
sincere best wishes for continued success in his noteworthy
endeavors; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Rabbi Lazaroff as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.