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AMENDMENT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 500

2    AMENDMENT NO. ___. Amend House Resolution 500 by replacing
3everything after the heading with the following:
 
4    "WHEREAS, 2013 marks the 170th anniversary of B'nai B'rith
5International; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The organization was founded on the Lower East
7Side of New York to improve the lives of new German Jewish
8immigrants to America; and
 
9    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith is the oldest service organization
10founded in the United States and has an unparalleled record of
11aiding humanity in communities throughout the United States and
12more than 50 other nations (the American Red Cross, which was
13founded 38 years later, was co-founded by a B'nai B'rith
14member); and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith has provided over $100 million in
2cash, medical equipment, and supplies to victims of disasters
3worldwide since 1868; and
 
4    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith is a strong and vocal advocate for
5the promotion of the State of Israel and has had an active
6presence in Israel since 1888; and
 
7    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith has had an active presence as an NGO
8at the United Nations since its founding and is the only Jewish
9NGO with full-time representation at the United Nations in New
10York and its agencies in Europe and Latin America; and
 
11    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith is America's largest Jewish sponsor
12of federally-funded housing for seniors with limited income,
13provides safe, comfortable, and affordable housing for seniors
14without regard for race, religion, and ethnicity, and has an
15international network of senior living facilities; and
 
16    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith is widely acclaimed as a forceful
17advocate for senior citizens, with a special emphasis on
18protecting Social Security and Medicare and in supporting
19health care reform for all; and
 
20    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith has a 100-year record of commitment
21to cultural diversity, tolerance, and understanding,

 

 

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1complemented by the Diverse Minds Youth Writing Challenge,
2through which high school students write and illustrate books;
3B'nai B'rith publishes the books for elementary school
4children, teaching them the values of tolerance and diversity;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith members in local communities provide
7countless hours of service to local projects to better the
8communities in which they live; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The B'nai B'rith International president, Mr.
10Allan J. Jacobs, is a resident of Lake Forest; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
13we designate October 13, 2013 as B'nai B'rith Day in the State
14of Illinois.".