Honor Rabbi Shpeen for Service

Senate Resolution No. 96 BY: Senator BRESLIN HONORING Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Carlyle Adams Ecumenical and Interfaith Award by the Capital Area Council of Churches on September 15, 2016 WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and WHEREAS, Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen has given not only of his time and energies but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has been designated for special honor; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Carlyle Adams Ecumenical and Interfaith Award by the Capital Area Council of Churches, to be celebrated at its Annual Dinner on Thursday,

September 15, 2016, at the Albany Country Club, Voorheesville, New York; and WHEREAS, The Capital Area Council of Churches, a fellowship of more than 90 faith communities in the Capital District, provides a wide range of services and programs dedicated to bringing congregations together in solidarity to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and provide ecumenical and interreligious education, advocacy and worship; and WHEREAS, The Carlyle Adams Ecumenical and Interfaith Award is presented to an individual who has worked to bring the message of ecumenical or interfaith unity to his or her congregation and the wider community through activism and participation in programs which exhibit the inclusive spirit of the late Dr. Carlyle Adams; and WHEREAS, A native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and a product of the Reform Movement, Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen has served Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany, New York, since 1985; in July of 1992, he assumed the position of Senior Rabbi of the Congregation; and WHEREAS, In 1979, Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Judaic Studies from the University of Michigan; four years later, he received a Master's degree in Hebrew Letters from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati, Ohio; during his first year, he studied at its campus in Jerusalem; and WHEREAS, Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen was ordained in June of 1984, and in

1988, he completed the St. Peter's Hospital Program, in Albany, New York, in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE); and WHEREAS, In May of 2009, in recognition of his 25th Anniversary of rabbinic ordination, Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion; he currently serves on the HUC-JIR President's Rabbinic Council; and WHEREAS, Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen has been called upon to contribute his time and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given of himself unstintingly; and WHEREAS, Locally, Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen serves on the Board of the Albany Symphony Orchestra and chairs its Committee on Institutional Advancement; he also serves on the Advisory Committee of the Capital District Senior Issues Forum Lifetime Achievement Award; and WHEREAS, In addition, Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen has been an Adjunct Professor at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York, teaching a course on the Holocaust, and he participates as a regular commentator on WMHT Public Television; and WHEREAS, In May of 2006, Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen was appointed by Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings to serve on the Albany Human Rights Commission; he also served for two terms as Past President of the Capital District Board of Rabbis; and WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his two children, one grandchild, and his late wife, Susan Balan, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a period of constructive involvement, Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen has stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor; and WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others which Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen has displayed throughout his life; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Carlyle Adams Ecumenical and Interfaith Award by the Capital Area Council of Churches on September 15, 2016; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen.