Standing with you here this Sabbath, we are moved to exalt in the Patriarch, Jacob's unforgettable words:

We warmly congratulate our Sister congregation and its Rabbi Robert Loewy on the handsome remodeling and inspiring new construction of this historic house of living Judaism!

Rabbi Loewy suggested we HUC-JIR Grads each reflect briefly on our days at the College. I remember well the impressive service at Cincinnati's Plum Street Temple, and the gala banquet that was held at a downtown hotel, in celebration of the Centennial of our Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Honestly, it's very hard to imagine that twenty-five years have gone by.

I was 17 when I began my studies at the College. I was a freshman in 1966 at U.C. and H.U.C. in what was then the undergraduate program. Two years ahead of me was, of all things, a girl named Sally who actually thought she would become a rabbi. Many of my classmates were sure that Dr. Glueck was just kidding about ordaining a woman. Fortunately, he was entirely serious.

My favorite haunts at the college became its magnificent library, the American Jewish Archives and the College chapel where not only did we pray from the Union Prayer Book twice each day, but we even sang some hymns in English! Kipat were hardly ever seen, and guitars were limited to summer camps and youth group meetings.

We students had all of our laundry done for us. Even our underwear was starched and pressed! We were forbidden from entering the College kitchen, and were served at table by waiters wearing white jackets. Thursdays we often had lamb chops! One or two "extremists" ate kosher food from tin foil pans.

Among the faculty giants were Dr. Sam Sandmel, Dr. Sheldon Blank, Dr. Elias Epstein, Dr. Werner Weinberg, Dr. Jakob Petechowski, and, of course, my beloved mentor, teacher and father figure - Jacob Rader Marcus - all of them now, of blessed memory.

Among the youngsters then serving as teaching assistants were Larry Hoffman, and Norman Cohen, destined to become great professors and role models to hundreds of rabbis and millions of laity.

Don't think that I believe those years to have been the "good old days," though I did love the English hymns and the lamb chops!

During my sabbatical I studied last year at the College in New York and can attest that the quality of education, the enlighted curriculum, the level of student preparedness and the caring depth of humanity of the professors far exceeded what obtained in my day.

I have personally known every College President since Dr. Julian Morganstern who served from 1921-1947. Of course, when I met him, it was only a few years before his death when I was his rabbi. He was almost 100 years old. When I was told that this great biblical scholar was coming to Temple on a particular Shabbat, I worked and re-worked my sermon for many hours. I practiced it until the very last minute. And I delivered it, if I do say so myself, flawlessly!

Expectantly, I watched him approach me in the receiving line. He was in a wheelchair pushed by his daughter and son-in-law. Dr. Morganstern looked up at me, extended his frail hand and in a high pitched voice informed me -- They say it was a fine message. I couldn't hear a word!

Such was my touch with greatness.

Happy Birthday beloved Hebrew Union College! Your greatest days are still ahead!