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PRESS RELEASE: SCHOTTENSTEIN EDITION OF THE TALMUD BAVLI PRESENTED TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Date: February 10th, 2005 At a time, the roles of God and Government are heatedly debated in the United States, an auspicious moment took place at a private event in the Nation's Capitol, one block away from the Supreme Court, in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress' Jefferson building, unnoticed by the ACLU. The event was so quiet the Library of Congress did not send out a press release announcing an accomplishment in contemporary Jewish history, donation of the most comprehensive translation of the Babylonian Talmud, Talmud Bavli, into America's Library. The project was begun by Jerome Schottenstein. Schottenstein passed away two years before the Schottenstein edition Talmud Bavli was published. Jay Schottenstein stood, in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress, nearby a photo of his late father, reflecting amongst friends, on what they completed and what they are about to embark on. The Schottenstein Talmud Bavli edition, a 15 plus year effort, is the first of several translations being requested from around the world. James Hadley Billington, Chief Librarian at America's Library of Congress, welcomed into the Library's collection the 73-volume English language Schottenstein edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Talmud Bavli. Mesorah Heritage Foundation Board of Governors organized the reception honoring Columbus Ohio's Schottensteins. The dedication of the Talmud Bavli, oral law, coincidental to the Library of Congress' exhibit "350 Years of Jews In America," was held yards away from the Library of Congress' permanent exhibitions of the Guttenberg Bible and the Bible of Mainz. Guests from around the country were served kosher sushi, along with other finger foods including a desert table of cut fruits, pineapple to be dipped in chocolate, and pastries accompanied by hot beverages. The evening was MC'd by Baltimore's Howard Friedman accompanied by his wife Judge Chaya Friedman. Concluding remarks were delivered by New York City Artscroll's Rabbi Zlotowitz, accompanied by Rebbetzin Zlotowitz, a son and daughter-in-law. Artscrolls president Elliot Schwartz was accompanied by his wife Judy, both Yeshiva Universtiy alumnae. Representatives from both the House and Senate included Senator Frank Lautenberg, Joe Lieberman, Hillary Rodham-Clinton, Evan Bayh, Patrick Tiberi, Carl Levin, Barbara Mikulski, Sam Brownback, Ralhp Regula, Todd Tiahrt, Shelly Berkley, Eric Cantor chief deputy majority whip Virginia's Congress and others. Schottenstein staff were in attendance. Former Costa Rican Ambassador Jaime Darenblum and his wife attended as did Eric Schockman, president of LA's Mazon.org, Sol Teichman, Shimmy Stein advisor to Eric Cantor, Simcha Lyons, Gary Torgow, Noam Neusner, President Bush's liason to the Jewish community conveyed the President's congratulations. Weeks after, Parsha Yitro, addressing the giving of the Torah, was read in synagogues around the world, Schottenstein said his next goal is to assure his edition of the Talmud Bavli, published by Artscroll/Mesorah publications, is "placed in every law school in America." BIO: Carrie Devorah is a DC based award winning investigative photojournalist. Devorah author of GOD IN THE TEMPLE OF GOVERNMENTS is one of DC's premier authorities of where God is in the Nation's Capitol. February, Devorah's work was submitted to the United States Supreme Court in an Amicus Brief defending God in Government.