March 28, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E665 supervision of Dr. Rabbi Saul Lieberman and of Jewish text which takes place every morn- emy) Epstein, Aviva (Ami) Robinson, Nava Dr. Rabbi Louis Finkelstein. Prior to his move ing. This study program has continued for the Silton and Shira Silton. They currently have 15 to Albany, New York, Rabbi Silton spent 6 past 10 years. In addition, he strengthened the grandchildren. years as a teacher and Education Director at daily minyanim, instituted Yom Kippur dia- f Camps Ramah in Glen Spey, New York and logues with inspiring international figures, initi- in Palmer, Massachusetts. Rabbi Silton arrived ated holiday dinners and workshops, orga- COMMENDING THE ADELPHI NEW in Albany after serving as Rabbi at Congrega- nized Hassidic Song Festivals, Cantorial con- YORK STATEWIDE BREAST CAN- tion Beth Israel in North Adams, Massachu- certs and innumerable Kallot featuring inter- CER HOTLINE & SUPPORT PRO- setts. While in North Adams, Rabbi Silton national performers and scholars. Through the GRAM taught at Williams College and served as pris- efforts of Rabbi Silton, Temple Israel has re- on chaplain. ceived numerous awards from United Syna- HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY Already in 1974, the pattern of Rabbi gogue of Conservative Judaism including OF NEW YORK Silton’s Rabbinate began to diverge from that those for: Israel Affairs, Camp Givah, Per- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of his colleagues. Here at Temple Israel, he forming Arts, Community Relations and Israel/ Wednesday, March 28, 2007 began his career as Educational Director for Masorti Affairs as well as Education Awards students N–12, including the Communal High for Programming, High School Education and Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York. Madam School, Camp Givah Director and assistant to the Framework for Excellence Synagogue Speaker, I rise today to commend the Adelphi Rabbi Kieval. In each of those areas, he ac- School Program Award. He assisted in the New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & tively fostered growth and change. Gradually founding of HADAR, the award-winning Judaic Support Program (‘‘the Program’’). The Pro- the nursery school expanded into a full Early Art and Book Center at Temple Israel. Rabbi gram, established 27 years ago at the Adelphi Childhood Center, servicing day care needs of Silton has also been featured in four books in- University School of Social Work, was one of pre-kindergarten youngsters and their parents. cluding The Outraged Conscience by Rochelle the first breast cancer programs in the coun- It now includes Baby and Me, Mommy (or G. Saidel, 1984; Against the Stream: Growing try. This highly respected and valued program Daddy) and Me toddler programs, and morn- Up Where Hitler Used to Live by Anna has developed important services that have ing and afternoon nursery. The Religious Rosmus, 2002; Out of Passau: Leaving a City been replicated throughout the U.S., and vol- School extended to 7 hours a week and fea- Hitler Called Home by Anna Rosmus, 2004; unteers have been crucial to the services pro- tured a school-wide Israeli Dance Program, and in a soon to be published book about the vided. On April 19, 2007, the Program volun- which eventually grew to present dance per- Sabbath by Christopher Ringwald. teers who have given women a place to turn formances in Albany, Boston, and New York All of the above mentioned activities at- when faced with breast cancer will be recog- City. On Shabbatot and High Holidays, tracted the community to Temple Israel but nized. preprimary and primary children in addition to Silton directly involved himself in countless The dedicated volunteers and staff of the ‘‘Juniors’’ could now attend services especially community events as well. For nearly 20 years Program offer crucial information and emo- designed for them. As they grew older, stu- he directed the Communal High School and tional support to people throughout New York dents could tour and study in Israel with dou- taught at the Bet Shraga Capital District He- who are coping with breast cancer. Almost all ble the amount of scholarship aid from gen- brew Academy. When Soviet Jewish immigra- the 100 volunteers have had breast cancer. erous member endowments and community tion was at its height, he supervised the ritual They know the fear and confusion that comes sources. Adults could now attend class 5 days circumcisions of nearly all Soviet immigrants’ with the discovery of a breast lump or the di- a week and occasionally participate in Hebrew male children, arranged and officiated at the agnosis of breast cancer. Because they have Reading Marathons; Professor Stephen Berk’s first Russian Jewish wedding and Bar Mitzvah ‘‘been there,’’ they immediately provide hope lecture series became a most successful Adult of these newly settled immigrants in the Cap- and much more to callers. These highly Education program. ital District. In addition to serving on a host of trained and well-supervised volunteers direct At Camp Givah, Rabbi Silton founded the community boards and committees including callers to the latest information, sending pam- Kibbutz Program, inspired the building of Yam the Police Review Board under Mayor Gerald phlets and other resources when needed. Sarah (Givah’s lake), the arts and crafts cen- Jennings, he initiated the first Jewish-Latino They let them know what services are avail- ter, and the early childhood shelter. He intro- Seder, hosted the third annual Black-Jewish able in their communities. And they are a duced and developed programs in boating, Seder, assisted the Aviva chapter of B’nai ‘‘shoulder to lean on’’ for callers. They are gymnastics, computers, horseback riding, and B’rith with the first Seder for the develop- there to listen and to help and get people Red Cross Boating Certification. For younger mentally disabled, discussed Judaism with through difficult times. children who literally could not wait until next hundreds of church groups and taught basic My office has used the program many times summer’s Givah excitement, he originated and Judaism classes and has lectured at area col- when constituents have come to me looking organized Camp Horef Katan, a winter camp. leges including College of St. Rose, Maria for help for themselves or their family mem- As Rabbi Silton’s responsibilities increased, College, Siena College, and SUNY Albany. He bers. I have been able to refer them to the so his avid interest in many other areas con- also worked with Mayor Jennings on the ob- Adelphi Program knowing that they will be tinued to expand. He founded Holocaust Sur- servance of Yom HaShoah to honor the late handled with care and concern and given the vivors and Friends in Pursuit of Justice and he Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese ‘‘Oskar best possible assistance. In the Healthy Fami- hosted the first major 3-day national Holocaust Schindler’’. In 1994, Silton built the first lies and Communities Subcommittee, of which conference for 1500 participants in April 1984 mikveh owned by Temple Israel to serve the I am the Chairwoman, we have explored the at Temple Israel. Since then he has organized congregation and the entire Capital district need for volunteers and I understand how crit- a multitude of services for the community community. The building of the mikveh has ical volunteerism is to this Nation. I thank the Kristalnacht and Holocaust Memorial com- been an inspiration to other conservative con- Program and its volunteers for their work. memorations, featuring international figures gregations throughout the country. An article f such as Beate Klarsfeld. He visited Germany about it will be coming out in the very near fu- several times in support of those testifying at ture of United Synagogue Review. TRIBUTE TO MINNIE BELLE war crimes trials, to officiate at an interfaith On an ongoing basis, Rabbi Silton teaches MCINTOSH service in Passau, Germany, and at other in the Temple Israel Educational Center: junior events that united survivors and liberators. high, high school, and adult education depart- HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN Silton’s most passionate efforts, however, ments. Following the Six Day War, Rabbi OF MARYLAND have focused on Temple and community. In Silton spent a year of study in Israel with his IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES addition to attending to traditional Rabbinical wife, Faye. While studying at the Hebrew Uni- duties at Temple Israel, he greatly expanded versity and the Rav Kook Yeshiva in Jeru- Wednesday, March 28, 2007 the Bar and Bat Mitzvah roles of boys and salem, he learned to become a Mohel. Or- Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise girls, initiated full reading of the scrolls by dained in 1968 by the Chief Rabbinate of today to recognize one of my constituents, women on various holidays, a women’s prayer Israel, he has officiated at thousands of B’ritol Minnie Belle McIntosh, who celebrates her group, Rosh Chodesh benching, P’Sukei Milah from Syracuse to the Catskills to West- 100th birthday on March 30, 2007. D’Zimra, and regular Torah reading; he intro- ern Massachusetts. Rabbi Silton and his wife, Minnie Belle McIntosh has led an extraor- duced Birkat Kohanim on an ongoing basis, a Faye, are the parents of Elana (Dr. Ari) dinary life. When she was only 4 years old, hashkamah (early) minyan and a learners’ Moskowitz, Michal (David, Esq.) Kahan, Dr. her mother died of tuberculosis, leaving her minyan. He also began a daily study program Akiva (Dr. Sharon) Silton, Tamar, Esq. (Jer- and her sister Anne as orphans to be shuttled

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:31 Mar 29, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A28MR8.001 E28MRPT1 hmoore on PROD1PC68 with HMREMARKS E666 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 28, 2007 between relatives in Mississippi and Texas. The Coast Guard requires the recipient of Wellness at the College of New Rochelle’s Despite this early hardship, the bright and live- this award to demonstrate pride, profes- School of New Resources at both the Brook- ly Minnie Belle graduated from the Blue Moun- sionalism, dedication, and to represent the lyn and Harlem Campuses. tain College boarding school and attended col- Coast Guard’s core values. Mr. Heibel has ex- Dr. Brathwaite has been a fitness-profes- lege at the Mississippi State College for celled in all of these categories, over-quali- sional for more than 25 years. She has Women, where she majored in math and fying him for this prestigious award. worked with the YMCA in Brooklyn, New York, physics. Her senior thesis on ‘‘The Talking Mr. Heibel possesses a solid set of leader- Washington, DC, and Memphis, Tennessee. Machines’’ included correspondence with ship skills and he has utilized them in the no- She presently serves her community through Thomas Edison. blest way possible: serving this country. the YMCA Bedford-Stuyvesant Branch. After college, Minnie Belle took up the only Throughout his career, Mr. Heibel’s leadership In addition to teaching for the College of occupation available to an educated woman in skills have propelled him forward. He began New Rochelle, Dr. Brathwaite has taught fit- that region and became a schoolteacher. The as a Seaman Recruit, then moved up to ness health and wellness for Catholic Univer- drop in crop prices following World War I hit Storekeeper Third Class, and currently serves sity of America in Washington, DC, Shelby Mississippi particularly hard, but Roosevelt’s as Storekeeper Second Class. In all of these State Community College, and the University New Deal legislation opened up new opportu- positions, Heibel demonstrated a commitment of Memphis in Tennessee. Dr. Brathwaite has nities for its residents. Minnie Belle became an to customer service, setting a respectable ex- trained International Dance and Exercise As- extension officer; her job was to inform rural ample for his colleagues to follow. He con- sociation instructors and several others who families of the best ways to provide their chil- tinues to challenge himself as a leader by en- have gone on to teach at places such as: the dren with good nutrition. Because of her gen- rolling in Officer Candidate School. New York State Conservatory Police, colleges der, her employment was never stable, and Mr. Heibel has also committed himself to and universities, family fitness ministries, and she traveled from Minneapolis to California to community service, volunteering for several numerous other fitness facilities. Texas to Mississippi to perform her job, but causes and organizations. He has volunteered Dr. Brathwaite is the president and founder her ‘‘people skills’’ made her an excellent so- for the Fort Meade Turkey Donation, helping of Family Fitness Ministries, a ministry focus- cial worker. to prepare turkey dinners for low-income fami- ing on fitness and wellness for churches and During World War II Minnie Belle, like many lies in the Baltimore area. Heibel also served their communities. Dr. Brathwaite’s training other women, went to work in Washington, as a unit Morale representative and organized roster includes: Author Zora Neal Hurston; the DC. She was employed by the Department of a series of Morale events. He planned a picnic internationally acclaimed singing group Sweet Agriculture, from which she retired in 1972. at a Baltimore Orioles game which featured Honey in the Rock; late film, stage, and tele- Her volunteer work in Maryland in recent the ELC color guard in the opening ceremony. vision actress Rosland Cash; and a host of years has been exemplary. The Shepherd’s Heibel coordinated a private viewing of the Fortune 500 Company professionals. Table and The Clothes Closet were founded movie ‘‘The Guardian,’’ an event which pro- A Christian broadcaster for more than 20 to feed and clothe the homeless, and Minnie duced a significant turn-out. He also helps to years, Dr. Brathwaite has carried the healing Belle marshaled the efforts of some 50 volun- fundraise by selling raffle tickets and conces- message of God throughout the community teers. Confronted with a mountain of donated sions at Coast Guard softball games. through public speaking and outreach. The clothes, she used the size measurements from Mr. Heibel’s accomplishments extend into world of Christian Broadcasting afforded her a Sears catalogue to mark trousers and the classroom as well. After earning a bach- the opportunity to work with the National Asso- dresses, and she guided the clients with good elor’s degree in Business Administration, ciation of Broadcasters’ number one religious humor and common sense. The success of Heibel has decided to continue his education radio organization in the country, Salem Com- The Shepherd’s Table in Maryland and Mont- by pursuing a master’s degree. He has en- munications Corp. She also worked with A&M gomery County owes much to Minnie Belle rolled in and completed a series of challenging Records where she represented such gospel McIntosh’s involvement. courses such as Business Calculus and Inter- recording artists as: Richard Smallwood; AI At 85, Minnie Belle moved into a retirement mediate Accounting. Green; the Clark Sisters; Reverend Shirley community, Bedford Court in Silver Spring, Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me Caesar; Rosie Grier; and Sweet Honey in the Maryland, where she turned her attention to today in honoring John Heibel. This out- Rock. recycling. She quickly whipped the residents standing individual will never stop challenging Dr. Brathwaite has been recognized numer- into shape, creating an army of recyclers, who himself and his record of success dem- ous times for her community involvement and dutifully washed out bottles and cans, sepa- onstrates that there is no limit to all he can leadership. She has received awards from the rated paper trash from garbage, and happily achieve. Mr. Heibel’s aspiration for knowledge, National Council of Negro Women, Inc., the signed up to be floor recycling monitors. She strides as a leader, and service to his country Ford Foundation, Outstanding Women of and Bedford Court are recipients of more than all prove that he is worthy of recognition. Let America, John Burroughs Elementary School, a half dozen awards recognizing their efforts. his outstanding accomplishments serve as an and the International Who’s Who of Profes- Her greatest asset, however, besides her example to us all as we work to improve our sional Business Women just to name a few. persistence, is her interest in people and kind- communities and our country. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize ness to all. Even now, as she reaches 100 this pillar of our community the Reverend Dr. years, she knows everyone’s name and story. f M. Jwahir Brathwaite for all that she has ac- On this special occasion, I urge my col- A TRIBUTE TO THE REVEREND DR. complished. leagues to join me in honoring Minnie Belle M. JWAHIR BRATHWAITE Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to McIntosh on her 100th birthday and in recog- join me in paying tribute to the Reverend Dr. nizing her as a woman of great perseverance, M. Jwahir Brathwaite. kindness, and accomplishment. I am delighted HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS OF NEW YORK f to wish her a year of good health and happi- ness and to thank her for her wonderful con- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMENDING JACOB WEST tributions to our community. Wednesday, March 28, 2007 f Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS OF TEXAS to pay tribute to the Reverend Dr. M. Jwahir HONORING JOHN HEIBEL IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Brathwaite. Dr. Brathwaite is a graduate of the HON. C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER Howard University School of Business and Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Public Administration, the Howard University Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise OF MARYLAND Graduate School of Divinity, and the United today to congratulate Jacob West of Marcus IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Theological Seminary. She has also received High School for his recognition as a 2007 Wednesday, March 28, 2007 educational certification from the University of Presidential Scholar. Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I Dayton. The Presidential Scholar Commission hon- rise before you today to honor John Heibel, Dr. Brathwaite serves the community as an ors up to 121 graduating seniors each year for who serves as a Storekeeper Second Class associate pastor at the Stuyvesant-Heights outstanding academic achievement. This Petty Officer in the United States Coast Christian Church in Brooklyn, New York. Or- award is one of our Nation’s highest for high Guard. Recently, Mr. Heibel was awarded Bal- dained at the Concord Baptist Church of school students. Jacob is being honored as a timore Area Coast Guard Enlisted Person of Christ in 1997, Dr. Brathwaite is a Professor of Presidential Scholar for his exceptional per- the Year. Religious Studies and Holistic Health and formance on the SAT.

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