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	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 709
	�������WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
	recognize the Texas Jewish Historical Society for its efforts to
	preserve the history of the Texas Jewish experience; and
	�������WHEREAS, The Texas Jewish Historical Society began in 1980
	after Rabbi Jimmy Kessler published a letter in Jewish newspapers
	in Houston and the Dallas and Fort Worth area calling for the
	creation of a historical society to preserve the history of the
	Texas Jewish experience; and
	�������WHEREAS, The society has grown to over 750 family members
	and has sponsored and encouraged research and provided a forum
	for scholars and students of Jewish history and culture in Texas;
	and
	�������WHEREAS, A permanent archive of source materials and
	histories has been established at The University of Texas
	American History Center in Austin as part of the Barker Texas
	History Collection; and
	�������WHEREAS, The earliest Jews, who arrived with the conquistadors,
	were attracted to Texas for the same reasons that the non-Jewish
	immigrants were; Texas promised seemingly limitless potential
	opportunities and offered more religious freedom than Europe;
	and
	�������WHEREAS, The early settlers followed a pattern of forming a
	cemetery-benevolent society and then establishing a synagogue;
	the first chartered Jewish congregation in Texas, Congregation
	Beth Israel, was founded in Houston in 1859; and
	�������WHEREAS, By the turn of the century, numerous congregations
	had been organized, and several Jewish communities began
	benevolent associations, such as chapters of the International
	Order of B'nai B'rith, literary societies, community lecture
	series, and afternoon schools; and
	�������WHEREAS, The Texas Jewish Historical Society preserves,
	publishes, and disseminates materials referring to the
	settlement and the history of Jews in Texas and their participation
	in its growth, and their integral role in Texas history; the
	society is holding its 2007 gathering April 20 through 22 in
	Odessa; now, therefore, be it
	�������RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
	80th Legislature, hereby commend the members of the Texas Jewish
	Historical Society and extend to them best wishes for a successful
	and informative meeting; and, be it further
	�������RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an
	expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
	Seliger
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	����President of the Senate
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	����I hereby certify that the
	above Resolution was adopted by
	the Senate on April 16, 2007.
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	����Secretary of the Senate
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	�����Member, Texas Senate