Larson Statement on the Passing of Rabbi Philip Lazowski

East Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on the passing of Rabbi Philip Lazowski.

"Rabbi Lazowski was an incredible human being, whose life story could be a motion picture documentary," said Larson. "Our hearts go out to his wife Ruth, the entire Lazowski family, and our dear friend Alan. When I served as President pro tempore of the Connecticut State Senate, it was an honor to have Philip Lazowski be the first Rabbi to preside as the body's Chaplain. It was always galvanizing to hear Rabbi Lazowski's story at Holocaust memorials, and his endless commitment to equality and justice. He miraculously survived the Holocaust and came to this country, having gone through tremendous sacrifice and loss in his life, and still served as an inspiration for hope, faith, and forgiveness. Rabbi Lazowski's life story should and will be enshrined in the halls of American and world history."

Rabbi Lazowski, a Holocaust survivor, came to Hartford as Education Director for Beth Sholom Synagogue, and serves as Rabbi for the following 40 years when Beth Sholom merged with Beth Hillel. Rabbi Lazowski became its rabbi several years later. When Beth Sholom later merged with Beth Hillel in 1969, he remained as rabbi for the following 40 years. He also served as a Hartford Police Chaplain, a member of the Board of Commissions on Aging, and was a past president of both the Educators' Council of Connecticut and the Jewish Education Council of Hartford. He served as Rabbi Emeritus of The Emanuel Synagogue and a chaplain at the Connecticut General Assembly.