Rep Michael McNulty on Rabbi Moseh Bomzer, Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, Albany, NY, May 21, 1998

"When Rabbis Bless Congress: The Great American Story of Jewish Prayers on Capitol Hill" ... buy the new book here:

Full video of Rabbi Moshe Bomzer prayer here

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to introduce to the Members of the House my good friend Rabbi Moshe Bomzer, the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob of Albany, New York. Rabbi Bomzer delivered the opening prayer today, and, incidentally, for those who have been around here for a while, he also delivered the opening prayer 20 years ago this month. Following in the footsteps of his father, who has led Brooklyn congregations for the past 45 years, Rabbi Bomzer is now celebrating the 13th year, his "Bar Mitzvah year," Mazeltov, as the spiritual leader of the largest Orthodox Jewish Congregation in our State's Capital District. In addition to his congregational duties, Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Bomzer is also the Chairman of the Chaplaincy Committee of the Capital District Board of Rabbis, serving as Chaplain at the Albany Correctional Facility, St. Peter's Hospital, and Teresian House. In 1996, Governor George Pataki appointed him to the Kosher Law Enforcement Advisory Board. Last year he was appointed a National Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America. Mr. Speaker, he has won the respect and admiration of his congregation and of our community as a whole, for his tireless dedication to the preservation of Judaism and the Jewish heritage. We are honored to have him here today, along with his wife, Rachael, and a large delegation from the Hebrew Academy of the Capital District. Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me just say a word of special thanks to my friend Moshe for the part of his prayer that dealt with saluting the men and women who wore the uniform of the United States military through the years. Had it not been for their service, we would not have the privilege of bragging about how we live in the freest and most open democracy on the face of the earth. Freedom is not free. On behalf of my brother Bill, who made the supreme sacrifice, and all of those who made the supreme sacrifice, and all of those who served in our Armed Forces through the years, like the late Pete D'Alessandro from Watervliet, New York, Congressional Medal of Honor winner, Moshe, I thank you.