[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1205-E1206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING RABBI IRVING ``YITZ'' GREENBERG

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RITCHIE TORRES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 3, 2024

  Mr. TORRES of New York. Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Irving ``Yitz'' Greenberg, 
a visionary scholar, teacher, author, and lecturer whose career 
spanning more than 65 years has profoundly influenced Jewish thought 
and practice while relating deeply to universal human values. His 
pioneering work, grounded in the core value of choosing life and 
improving society through goodness in every action, carries insights 
that resonate far beyond any single religion or tradition.
  Rabbi Greenberg envisions a future shaped by a profound reverence for 
life in all its forms, inspiring us to build a more unified, 
compassionate, and humane world. Central to this vision is the 
traditional Jewish belief in Tzelem Elokim--the conviction that all 
humans are created in the image of God, underscoring the inherent 
dignity and worth of every person.
  Rabbi Greenberg's contributions extend far beyond ideas and 
scholarship to the institutions he has created and shaped, institutions 
that continue to embody his vision, often challenging traditional norms 
to inspire growth and progress. As leader of the Soviet Jewry movement, 
rabbi of a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Riverdale, and co-founder of 
SAR academy, a day school in my district of the Bronx, Rabbi Greenberg 
has served the Jewish community in numerous capacities. He has been a 
professor and chair of the Jewish Studies Department at City College of 
New York, president of CLAL and the Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt 
Foundation, and executive director of the President's Commission on the 
Holocaust. His leadership extended to chairing the U.S. Holocaust 
Memorial Museum. In fact, Rabbi Greenberg was among the first to teach 
college-level courses on the Holocaust in the mid-1960s.
  As a Modern Orthodox philosopher, Rabbi Greenberg has addressed the 
profound challenges posed by the Holocaust, framing it as a 
transformative moment that altered the relationship between man and 
God, and shattered the Jewish world, one that had to rebuild itself and 
create a new, life-affirming reality. His narrative of Jewish life in a 
post-Holocaust

[[Page E1206]]

world emphasizes resilience, responsibility, and the power of moral 
action. He described this period as the ``Third Great Era'' in Jewish 
history--an era marked by Jewish self-determination. This era would be 
defined by Jews taking full responsibility for their own destiny, from 
the establishment of the State of Israel to the creation of new 
Diaspora institutions that would celebrate and sustain the full 
spectrum of Jewish religiuos and ethnic identity. Now, at 91, Rabbi 
Greenberg explores this core principle of Tzelem Elokim in ``The 
Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism'', a profound magnum 
opus that encapsulates the breadth of his teachings. Greenberg's vision 
emphasizes justice, compassion, and dignity, with the sanctity of life 
and the divine image inherent in every human being at its heart.
  Throughout his career, Rabbi Greenberg has remained steadfast in his 
commitment to these values, in partnership with his wife, Blu, a 
trailblazing writer and founder of the Orthodox feminist movement. 
Together, Rabbi Yitz and Blu Greenberg's progressive values have been 
central to the educational philosophy of SAR Academy, the school they 
founded in Riverdale, NY. Inspired by the Open Education movement, they 
envisioned a school with no walls, one that would foster creativity, 
independence, and collaboration through open spaces and a student-
centered approach--a vision in this deep belief in the divine potential 
inherent in every individual. Today, more than fifty-six years later, 
SAR continues to embody Rabbi Greenberg's vision, recognizing the 
divine spark in each and every individual child. The school challenges 
students to live Torah values while fostering creativity, empathy, and 
a commitment to building a better world.
  Rabbi Greenberg has remained steadfast in his mission to advance 
Judaism as dynamic, inclusive, and responsive to the challenges of the 
modern world. He has consistently advocated for the inclusion of women 
and LGBTQ individuals in religious life, while also championing 
interfaith dialogue as essential to fostering compassion and 
understanding across communities.
  In these dark and challenging times, Rabbi Greenberg's message serves 
as a beacon of hope. His teachings remind us of the transformative 
power of goodness and respect for every individual in shaping a 
brighter future for all.

                          ____________________