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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BETH SHALOM B’NAI ZAKEN ETHIOPIAN HEBREW CONGREGATION
WHEREAS, Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation (Beth Shalom) will be celebrating their 100 year anniversary “L’Dor V’Dor” (from Generation to Generation) from October 26, 2018 to October 28, 2018; and
WHEREAS, Beth Shalom is the oldest Temple in the Chicago area serving the Israelite Community; and
WHEREAS, Beth Shalom is a family synagogue that exists as a place of worship for all people of the Hebrew-Israelite faith; and
WHEREAS, Beth Shalom was established as the Ethiopian Hebrew Association in 1915, by Rabbi Horace Hasan; and
WHEREAS, in 1918, Rabbi David Lasarus and Rabbi Caino Stirson, came to the Chicago area from New York and later joined forces with Rabbi Hasan, and five years later, by their beloved Senior Rabbi Abihu Ben Reuben; and
WHERAS, in the 1930’s and 1940’s, the leadership of the Ethiopian Hebrew community was firmly in the hands of Rabbi Abihu Ben Reuben, Rabbi Lazarus, and Rabbi Louis Green. Rabbis Reuben and Lazarus studied with Chief Rabbi Wentworth A. Matthew, at the Commandment Keepers Congregation in New York City, and were ordained rabbis by Chief Rabbi Matthew. Rabbi Louis Green received his Masters of Science in Jewish Studies from the College of Jewish Studies in Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, in 1952, Chief Rabbi Wentworth A. Matthew came to Chicago to oversee the opening of a new Temple to serve the Ethiopian Hebrew Community; and
WHEREAS, in 1984, the Congregation of Ethiopian Hebrews and Beth Shalom Hebrew Congregation merged to form Beth Shalom Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation. Rabbis Abihu Ben Reuben and Capers C. Funnye, Jr., served the congregation as senior and assistant rabbis; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, Beth Shalom merged with the Congregation of B’nai Zaken, to form Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation, with Rabbi Capers C. Funnye, Jr. as Rabbi; and
WHEREAS, Beth Shalom is an affiliate congregation of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis Inc. and fully embraces the ideals of Resolution 80lA which was passed by the Board in 1981. It affirms the brotherhood of all people who worship the G-D of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob without regard to tradition or terminology.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby congratulates the Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation on their 100th year anniversary and joins them in honoring this auspicious occasion; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be tendered to the Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation.
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