LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 60th Anniversary of Temple
Avodah of Oceanside, New York, to be celebrated on June 15, 2012

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes pleasure in commemorating the
60th Anniversary of Temple Avodah of Oceanside, New York, to be cele-
brated at a Journal Dinner on Friday, June 15, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Temple Avodah began with an initial group of 15 families who
met to discuss the need for a Reform Jewish Temple in their community;
and
WHEREAS, On September 3, 1952, more than 50 families attended a commu-
nity meeting, and unanimously passed a resolution to create a Temple;
and
WHEREAS, A local nursery school served as temporary quarters for
Temple Avodah's religious school and an Oceanside firehouse became the
setting for its services; and
WHEREAS, By the end of Yom Kippur, 75 families had become members of
Temple Avodah; and
WHEREAS, After ten months, the congregation had grown to 120 families
and the religious school expanded far beyond its physical capacity; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to find larger, more suitable quarters, the
Temple purchased four and a half acres of beautifully landscaped proper-
ty, centrally located, complete with a ten-room building and large
carriage house; and
WHEREAS, The ten-room, three story house, became the Temple's Reli-
gious School building and community house and the carriage house tempo-
rarily became the synagogue; and
WHEREAS, When almost four hundred persons attended the High Holidays
in 1953, it became necessary to hold services out of doors; and
WHEREAS, With the realization of the rapid growth of the congregation
and the inadequacy of the carriage house as a place of worship, a large
Temple was raised; and
WHEREAS, Temple Avodah stands on the threshold of tomorrow, prepared
to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retaining that spir-
itual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Temple Avodah, to be observed on
June 15, 2012, fully confident that this commemoration reflects the
belief in those values which enhance the dignity and purpose of life;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Temple Avodah, Oceanside, New York.