HR0954 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0954 LRB093 22134 HSS 50884 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to recognize milestone events in the history of congregations in the State; and

WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Temple B'nai Israel of Aurora will be celebrating its centennial during the year 2004; and

WHEREAS, In the late 19th and early 20th century, a number of Eastern European Jews arrived in the Aurora area as part of the second great European emigration; by 1904, about 20 Jewish families had settled in Aurora; and

WHEREAS, The beginnings of organized worship were relatively informal; a local business man, Barnett Yellin, led the services and taught the children in religious school; the early congregants informally took on the name "Sons of Abraham" and prayed in various rented halls that were above the businesses in downtown Aurora; by 1916, the group was more formally organized and charged minimal dues; from time to time, rabbis came from Chicago to lead services, especially for the High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; and

WHEREAS, The first full-time rabbi, Nathan Rubenstein, was engaged in the early 1920s; around that time, the congregants chose a new name, Young Men's Hebrew Association of Aurora (YMHA); this unusual name was said to reflect the congregants' feelings that they were more than a congregation; they were a community representing one of the most unusual Jewish communities in the United States because they represented every aspect, both religious and cultural; and

WHEREAS, In 1923, a State charter was granted to the YMHA; officers and a board of directors were selected and immediately began to plan for a permanent house of worship; the congregation's building, the YMHA Temple, was completed in 1927; it still stands on North Lincoln Avenue on the edge of downtown Aurora; and

WHEREAS, In 1961, the congregation moved to its present site, located at 400 North Edgelawn in Aurora; the building provides a sanctuary seating 200, a small chapel that accommodates 50, a full set of classrooms for religious education, and a large social hall that can be converted to an addition to the sanctuary to accommodate additional congregants, especially during High Holy Days; and

WHEREAS, During the previous year, coincident with the move to the present location, the group changed its name to Temple B'nai Israel; at that time, membership comprised about 130 to 140 families, with almost all living in Aurora; and

WHEREAS, A number of rabbis have served the congregation over the 100 year period and some went on to distinguished national careers; notably, Rabbi Hyman Agress served for 35 years, from 1963 to 1998; since 2001, Rabbi Shmuel Mann has led the congregation; the group is governed by a board of directors and a board of trustees; the current president is Esther Pollock; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Temple B'nai Israel on the occasion of its centennial; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Temple B'nai Israel as an expression of our respect and esteem and with best wishes for the congregation's continued success.