LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the First Capital District Community
Commemoration of Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, on May 12, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to recognize events
which exemplify and celebrate the rich religious, cultural and ethnic
heritage of the people of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the First Capital District Community Commemoration of Yom Yerushalayim,
Jerusalem Day, to be held in Albany on Wednesday, May 12, 2010; and
WHEREAS, On that day at Temple Israel in Albany, the Jewish community
and Christian Zionist community will join together to celebrate Yom
Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, a national holiday in Israel, this year
commemorating the 43rd anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem
following the Six-Day War of 1967; and
WHEREAS, To commemorate this festive occasion, Jewish Educational
Resources of New York's (JERNY) Israel Center in Albany, the Light of
the World Christian Church in Latham, and the Jewish Federation of
Northeastern New York as well as 20 other area organizations are pooling
their resources in support of the common goal of peace and unity in
Jerusalem; and
WHEREAS, They will, in addition, honor four Israel Heroes: The Rever-
end Bill Adams, Deputy National Director, Bridges for Peace - USA; Dr.
Stephen Berk, Professor of History at Union College in Schenectady; Dr.
Arthur Brenner, Professor of Judaic Studies at the University at Albany
and The Honorable Michael McNulty of Green Island, former U.S. Congress-
man representing New York State's 21st Congressional District, all of
whom have inspired Capital District residents to believe in Jerusalem
and all it stands for as the official Capital of Israel; and
WHEREAS, To honor these heroes, the Israel Center will proudly host a
gourmet Israel Heroes Dinner at Temple Israel; a Rally for the Peace of
Jerusalem and a Unity Celebration of Jerusalem commemorating the 43rd
anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem following the Six-Day War
which will replicate the sights, sounds, smells and inspiring feelings
of Jerusalem, will follow the dinner; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Bill Adams, Deputy National Director, Bridges
for Peace - USA, was the first Bridges for Peace (BFP) representative in
the Northeast; since 2003, he has served as an Area Coordinator for this
region, a Regional Director for the Northeast, and now as the Deputy
National Director of Bridges for Peace based in Cocoa, Florida; BFP
volunteers work to strengthen Israel and to educate the church about
Israel and the Jewish people with a continual effort to counter Anti-
semitism; and
WHEREAS, He was selected as an Israel Hero in recognition of his tire-
less work on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people, seeking to bring
reconciliation to broken relationships, to educate to bring truth and
justice into a world filled with misinformation and to show great kind-
ness in providing for those in need; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Stephen Berk, Professor of History at Union College in
Schenectady, was selected as an Israel Hero by the public via an online
vote; he began his teaching career at Union College 43 years ago at age
27 and generations of Union's students have benefited from his commit-
ment to teaching; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Berk is known as one of the most respected national voic-
es and respected authors on the Holocaust and Russian Jewry; he has
developed a unique perspective about Israel and is most struck by the
country's ability to live in a perpetual state of siege, remain a demo-

cratic country and, at the same time, be able to maintain a high stand-
ard of living for most people living in the country despite war after
war; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arthur Brenner, Professor of Judaic Studies at the
University at Albany and a Co-founder of the Israel Center and JERNY in
2002, was chosen as an Israel Hero for his vast knowledge of the State
of Israel and for his devotion to Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish
state; and
WHEREAS, As a Judaic Studies professor at the University at Albany,
Dr. Brenner's teachings focus on a historical prospective of Zionism,
Palestine, Israel and the Holocaust; he has made substantial contrib-
utions to the Judaic Studies Department and hundreds of students have
greatly benefited from his depth of knowledge; and
WHEREAS, Former Congressman Michael "Mike" McNulty is fittingly being
honored as an Israel Hero in recognition and appreciation of his endur-
ing support of Israel; for more than 30 years he has been a staunch
supporter and defender of Israel in the New York State Assembly, in the
U.S. House of Representatives and now as a private citizen he remains a
strong advocate for the recognition of Jerusalem as the eternal capital
of the state of Israel; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure in Congress he played a key role bringing
Ethiopian Jews to Israel as well as in helping to track down Nazi war
criminals; he is known for his strong belief that Israel's security is
of prime importance and has visited Israel on a number of occasions,
consulting with the highest government officials on the peace process;
and
WHEREAS, On the auspicious occasion of the Capital District's observa-
tion of Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, it is the sense of this Legis-
lative Body to recognize and commend the Israel Center, the Light of the
World Christian Church, the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York
as well as the multitude of other area organizations who have come
together to organize, sponsor and support this important and inspiring
event; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend and commemorate the First Capital District Community Commem-
oration of Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, to be held in Albany on
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 and to salute the Israel Heros who will be
honored on that special day; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Israel Center, the Light of the World Christian Church,
the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York and the other participat-
ing area organizations and to the 2010 Israel Heroes.