III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 145 

Commemorating the bicentennial of the birth of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise 

and the 130th anniversary of the founding of the Central Conference 

of American Rabbis. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 4, 2019 

Mr. BROWN (for himself and Mr. PORTMAN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the bicentennial of the birth of Rabbi Isaac 

Mayer Wise and the 130th anniversary of the founding 

of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. 

Whereas March 29, 2019, marks the bicentennial of the birth 

of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise (referred to in this preamble 

as ‘‘Rabbi Wise’’) on March 29, 1819; 

Whereas Rabbi Wise— 

(1) moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854; and 

(2) resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, until his death in 

1900; 

Whereas Rabbi Wise is widely recognized as— 

(1) the pioneering architect of Reform Judaism in 

the United States; and 


pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 145 ATS 

(2) the founding organizer of Reform Jewish institutions in the United States; 

Whereas the United States is home to the largest Reform 

Jewish community in the world, which considers Rabbi 

Wise to be 1 of the preeminent founders; 

Whereas in 1873, Rabbi Wise founded the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now known as the Union for 

Reform Judaism; 

Whereas in 1875, Rabbi Wise founded Hebrew Union College, now known as Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, which, as of March 2019— 

(1) has campuses in— 

(A) Cincinnati, Ohio; 

(B) Los Angeles, California; 

(C) New York, New York; and 

(D) Jerusalem; 

(2) is the premier Jewish seminary in North America; and 

(3) is the academic, spiritual, and professional leadership development center of Reform Judaism; 

Whereas in 1889, Rabbi Wise founded the Central Conference of American Rabbis; 

Whereas in 2019— 

(1) the annual convention of the Central Conference 

of American Rabbis shall be held in Cincinnati, Ohio; and 

(2) the Central Conference of American Rabbis shall 

celebrate the 130th anniversary of the founding of the 

Central Conference of American Rabbis at that convention; 


pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 145 ATS 

Whereas the Senate congratulates the Central Conference of 

American Rabbis for reaching the significant milestone of 

130 years as an organization; and 

Whereas, for 130 years, the Central Conference of American 

Rabbis has made invaluable contributions to the cultural 

and religious fabric of the United States: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes March 29, 2019, as the bicenten3 nial of the birth of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise (re4 ferred to in this resolving clause as ‘‘Rabbi Wise’’); 

5 (2) recognizes the outstanding accomplishments 

6 of Rabbi Wise, which have had an enduring effect on 

7 life, culture, and religion in the United States; 

8 (3) recognizes the extraordinary role of Rabbi 

9 Wise in the history of the United States; and 

10 (4) congratulates the Central Conference of 

11 American Rabbis on the 130th anniversary of the 

12 founding of the conference by Rabbi Wise. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS