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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Through his faith and the gift of his music, Hazzan |
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David Propis has enriched the spiritual lives of members of |
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Congregation Beth Yeshurun and brought joy to audiences in Houston |
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and beyond; and |
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WHEREAS, David Propis, born in Canada and raised in |
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Philadelphia, made his debut as a soloist at the age of five in the |
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choir led by his father, renowned cantor Dov Propis; he absorbed a |
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love of Jewish and Chassidic music from his family and trained in |
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the traditional cantorial style with his father and with famed |
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Israeli cantor Chayim Eliezer Hershtik, and he studied voice with |
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opera diva Elena Nikolaidi and with Dr. Steven Smith of the Houston |
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Grand Opera; he joined Congregation Beth Yushurun in 1994; and |
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WHEREAS, A valued member of the Cantors Assembly, Inc., the |
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largest governing body of hazzanut in the world, Hazzan Propis has |
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served as vice president and held several other leadership |
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positions in the organization; the Gila and Chaim Weiner Foundation |
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for the Advancement of the Cantorial Arts granted him its master |
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cantor certificate, and he has received the Lion of Judah award from |
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the State of Israel Bonds, among other honors; and |
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WHEREAS, This talented artist has released a number of |
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recordings, including Visions of Shabbat, which also features his |
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daughter, Dena Propis, and Inspirations: Memories of Home, created |
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for the Holocaust Museum Houston, of which he is a charter board |
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member; moreover, Hazzan Propis has performed before numerous |
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general audiences, made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1998, and |
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starred as one of The Three Cantors in sold-out concerts at Wortham |
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Center in Houston; in addition to appearing with such comedians as |
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Yakov Smirnoff and Jackie Mason, he has played leading roles in |
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Houston theatrical productions and has sung stirring renditions of |
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"The Star-Spangled Banner" at national sporting events; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of great faith, Hazzan David Propis has |
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brought profound inspiration to countless people and it is indeed a |
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pleasure to recognize his artistic contributions to the community; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize Hazzan David Propis for his |
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accomplishments and service to the community and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Hazzan Propis as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Edwards |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2619 was adopted by the House on May |
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31, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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