By Naishtat                                            H.R. No. 785
         76R13466 BE-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes great pride
 1-2     in congratulating Rabbi Kerry Baker on his installation as rabbi at
 1-3     Congregation Kol Halev, for this spiritual and celebratory occasion
 1-4     indeed merits special legislative recognition; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, The Austin congregation held its first service in
 1-6     December 1997 and is one of the fastest growing in Central Texas,
 1-7     with more than 125 families now in attendance; the Congregation Kol
 1-8     Halev serves as a commendable sign of the strength and vibrancy of
 1-9     the Jewish faith in the Lone Star State; and
1-10           WHEREAS, A cum laude graduate of Colgate University, Rabbi
1-11     Baker was ordained through the Hebrew Union College-Jewish
1-12     Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in New York, where he took prizes
1-13     in Hebrew and Jewish Thought; and
1-14           WHEREAS, Eminently qualified as a spiritual leader, he has
1-15     pastoral counseling training from the William Alanson White
1-16     Institute in New York, certification in confluent education from
1-17     HUC-JIR in Los Angeles, and doctoral studies in the history of
1-18     religions at the University of California in Santa Barbara; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Rabbi Baker brings to his post a wealth of valuable
1-20     outreach and ministerial experience as well; he was a 10-year
1-21     member of the Community of University Ministers, served as rabbi
1-22     for the Hillel at The University of Texas at Austin, and was asked
1-23     to serve on the Austin Mayor's Clergy Task Force on Racial and
1-24     Religious Reconciliation; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Rabbi Baker and his wife,
 2-2     Lynda, have been blessed with two children, Ilana and Ben;  the
 2-3     close and loving bonds this exemplary family share will no doubt
 2-4     serve to further the respect and admiration Kol Halev members hold
 2-5     for Rabbi Baker; and
 2-6           WHEREAS,  The installation ceremonies are scheduled for May
 2-7     14-16, 1999, with the congregation's scholar-in-residence, Dr.
 2-8     Martin Cohen, leading the Friday night sermon and Saturday
 2-9     morning's D'var Torah;  a gala dinner that night, followed by a
2-10     program Sunday morning, guarantee that the weekend will indeed be a
2-11     busy and important one, filled with the solemnity and joy the
2-12     investiture of a new rabbi brings; now, therefore, be it
2-13           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-14     Legislature hereby congratulate Rabbi Kerry Baker on his
2-15     installation at the Congregation Kol Halev and extend to him and
2-16     all those associated with the congregation warmest best wishes for
2-17     great happiness and success in the years ahead; and, be it further
2-18           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-19     prepared for Rabbi Baker to commemorate this grand event and as an
2-20     expression of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.