SR0041 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0041 LRB094 09222 CSA 39456 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Rabbi Irving J. Rosenbaum, age 83, the longtime Chicago Loop Synagogue leader, passed away January 28, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Rabbi Rosenbaum touched millions around the world with his multi-media Judaic and Hebrew education materials and was also the founder of the Davka Corporation, one of the largest developers of religious software; he was a quick learner who realized Judaism's peaceful teachings could be absorbed through film, television, newspapers, and books; and

WHEREAS, He was born in Omaha, Nebraska and came to Chicago at the age of 16 to attend the University of Chicago and Skokie's Hebrew Theological College; after receiving his Ph.D in Judaic literature, he became the national director of the Department of Inter-religious Cooperation of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith; and

WHEREAS, In 1960, he moved to Boston for a short period to work on a Brandeis University project that educated journalists on civil liberties and civil rights; he returned to Chicago a year later when he was named the first executive director of the Chicago Board of Rabbis; under his leadership, the organization created a Jewish children's show and Hebrew-language instruction program for adults on public television; the board also sponsored the First National Conference on Religion and Race, which featured an address by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Rabbi Rosenbaum, who served Chicago Loop Synagogue between the early 1960s and late 1970s, also taught an ongoing leadership seminar called "Jew 101" and authored "The Holocaust and Halakhah"; he was named Hebrew Theological College's president in 1977, where he created the Institute for Computers in Jewish Life; and

WHEREAS, He was a self-taught amateur electrician, plumber, and carpenter who learned how to swim in his 40s; many of the things he did were pioneering; he was far ahead of his time, he had great vision; he was an extraordinarily intelligent, creative person; in many ways he was a Renaissance man; he was always searching for innovative ways to reach Jews and non-Jews alike; and

WHEREAS, All of his sons became rabbis and his daughter married a rabbi; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Rabbi Irving J. Rosenbaum is felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife, Ruth (nee Groner), his sons, Rabbi Roy (Judy) Rosenbaum, Rabbi Don (Roberta) Rosenbaum, and Rabbi Alan (Talli) Rosenbaum; his daughter, Susan (Rabbi Saul) Schwartz; his 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; and his sister, Pauline (Joseph) Guss; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Rabbi Irving J. Rosenbaum and we extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.