Rabbi Joel Tessler, Temple Beth Shalom, Potomac, MD, House guest chaplain, November 9, 1999

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Full video of Rep. Rep. Peter Deutsch sponsoring remarks here

In the Bible, the Prophet Billim is hired to curse the Jewish people, the chosen people of God. Try as he might, God would not place in him the spirit of condemnation and curse, but enveloped him in true understanding with purity and love. Billim uttered these famous words which were said as a person enters the synagogue: "How goodly are your homes of Jacob, your institutions of Israel?" [[Numbers 24:5]] Why do we praise our homes when we enter the synagogue? The Lord taught Billim that our institutions are only as strong as our homes. If the American family is under siege, is it any wonder that our schools are becoming battle zones for children and teachers? Money alone cannot substitute for the foundation and grounding that parents, grandparents, and families provide. Every discussion in these halls must be judged with an eye on how goodly are our homes, the homes we help our citizens create. Our institutions, whether schools or houses of worship, are only as strong as the families which make up this great land. Today is the anniversary of Kristel Nacht, the night of the broken glass, when darkness descended upon Nazi Germany and thousands of synagogues were set on fire. Our institutions and the future of our society depends on the families we help support. Amen.