1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 760
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
 1-4     recognize and honor the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Kerry Baker;
 1-5     the Senate celebrates his installment as the first rabbi of Austin's
 1-6     Congregation Kol Halev; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, Rabbi Baker graduated cum laude from Colgate
 1-8     University in 1972; afterwards, he attended Hebrew Union
 1-9     College--Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City, obtaining
1-10     his master of Hebrew Literature in 1975 and his ordination in 1977;
1-11     and
1-12           WHEREAS, After completing his pastoral counseling training
1-13     in New York, Rabbi Baker took up doctoral studies in the history
1-14     of religions at the University of California--Santa Barbara; he
1-15     received his certification in confluent education at Hebrew Union
1-16     College--Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Rabbi Baker is a devoted spiritual guide; his
1-18     philosophy embraces the Torah and its tradition of interpretation,
1-19     while encouraging the individual to take his or her own place in
1-20     that tradition of interpretation; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Rabbi Baker assumes leadership of a burgeoning
1-22     postdenominational congregation; the families of the Congregation
1-23     Kol Halev delight in the prospect of Rabbi Baker's leadership
1-24     and look forward to establishing an enduring presence in
 2-1     Central Texas; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, The Congregation Kol Halev will honor Rabbi Baker's
 2-3     ascendency with a celebratory weekend; ceremonies will include
 2-4     teachings by the congregation's first scholar-in-residence,
 2-5     Dr. Martin Cohen, a gala, and a Family Education Program; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, In addition to his service to the Congregation
 2-7     Kol Halev, Rabbi Baker has been an invaluable asset to the Austin
 2-8     community at large, serving on the mayor's clergy task force on
 2-9     racial and religious reconciliation and as the Hillel rabbi at
2-10     The University of Texas at Austin; and
2-11           WHEREAS, Rabbi Baker is indeed an invaluable asset to the
2-12     Congregation Kol Halev, to the residents of Austin, and to the
2-13     State of Texas; now, therefore, be it
2-14           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-15     76th Legislature, hereby extend congratulations to Rabbi Baker on
2-16     his being installed as rabbi of the Congregation Kol Halev; and,
2-17     be it further
2-18           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
2-19     Rabbi Baker as a memento of this special occasion.
2-20                                                              Barrientos
2-21                                  ______________________________________
2-22                                          President of the Senate
2-23                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-24                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-25                                  on April 27, 1999.
2-26                                  ______________________________________
2-27                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-28                                  ______________________________________
2-29                                           Member, Texas Senate