HR1119

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation was 
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inspired to build an energy sustainable synagogue by Rabbi 
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Brant Rosen's sermon for Kol Nidre in September 2006 on 
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"Walking the Walk: The Sacred Art of Energy Conservation"; and

 
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    WHEREAS,
The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation has now 
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achieved the honored status as the "greenest Shul in America" 
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with the first Platinum LEED rating for a synagogue from the 
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U.S. Green Building Council; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The process by which the new building was created 
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was truly magnificent, with Jewish Reconstructionist 
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Congregation Board members, staff, and congregants being 
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involved in every detail of planning, fundraising, relocating, 
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design, and construction; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The architecture critic of the Chicago Tribune 
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commended that the new Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation 
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building "fuses the structural, the sustainable and the 
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spiritual into a powerful whole" and "adds a rich new sense of 
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possibility to the no-rules field of Jewish architecture"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The new Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation 
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building serves as a model in new construction with reduced 
 


 






HR1119
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LRB095 20615 GRL 48792 r




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energy costs of about 45-percent less than a typical synagogue 
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of the same size; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The combination of water efficient features are 
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projected to save 40% on water consumption throughout the life 
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of the building; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation plans 
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to educate its own congregation in sustainable practices, with 
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the goal of reaching 100-percent participation in the years 
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ahead, and plans to create a movement for sustainability and 
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environmental consciousness in the larger Jewish community; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation on the 
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occasion of its community dedication weekend on April 11-13, 
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2008, celebrating its new sustainable synagogue; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation as an 
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expression of our esteem and best wishes for continued success 
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in the future.