"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness... "

These words from the Declaration of Independence are among the best known and most often quoted words written by our American forebears. They are as important as the Constitution, though they are not themselves law. Rather, they are the ideological underpinning of this nation. They put into words the ideas, ideals and principles that formed the foundation of our system of government, which then become law.

I'd like to share with you another set of ideas, ideals and principles, not nearly as well known but equally important to the underpinning of this congregation. They are the preamble to the Constitution and By-Laws of Emanu El. They were written 59 years ago and what they present as the foundation of who we are is no less valid today than 59 years ago.

Every time I read them, they make me proud of Emanu El. I hope they do the same for you.

"Believing that Judaism is a religion of perpetual growth and development, we hold that while loyal to the fundamental teachings thereof, we are, and by virtue of the genius of Israel, ought to be, free to interpret and restate the teachings of Israel of the past in the light of the present, and that each succeeding generation of Israel is free to reformulate the truths entrusted in the Providence of the God of our ancestors.

Believing further that the power of the Synagogue for good depends, in part, upon the inherent right to freedom of thought and speech of its members and from its pulpit, the membership of Congregation Emanu El resolves that its members shall not be limited in their freedom of thought and its pulpit shall be free for the preaching of truth and righteousness in the democratic spirit and after the pattern of the prophets of Israel."