The JCRC mourns the passing of Massachusetts Senator EdwardKennedy and wishes to express our deepest sympathy to Senator Kennedy's familyand to his constituents in Massachusetts.

Senator Kennedy embodied the spirit of public service and acommitment to social justice as well as to compromise and bi-partisanship. His death will leave a void in the Senatethat may never be filled. A senator for nearly 50 years, he was a dedicated voice ofcivility, compassion and principle. Heremained true to America'sfounding ideals as a nation of opportunity and equality for all as exemplifiedby his work to pass the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which removedhistorical racial quotas for legal immigration.This reform permitted the immigration of energetic and entrepreneurialfuture Americans to better the life and economy of the United States. Senator Kennedy touched the lives of all Americans,especially the most vulnerable among us.On issues of war and peace, civil and human rights, education andhealthcare, Senator Kennedy was both a tireless advocate and profoundlyeffective legislator. The mostsignificant legislation of the past five decades, including the ComprehensiveAnti-Apartheid Act of 1986, equal funding for women's sports under Title IX,the COBRA Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Ryan White CareAct, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and the No Child LeftBehind Act all bear his name or were passed because of his leadership. Within the Jewish community, Senator Kennedy will always beremembered as a friend of Israeland a supporter of Middle East peace. As an advocate for keeping our nation'sborders open and fighting injustices around the world, he was a leading voiceof support for Soviet Jewry and personally helped gain the release of NatanSharansky, a prominent Jewish refusenikand Soviet prisoner who would later become a Deputy Prime Minister of Israel. We join Senator Kennedy's family and a gratefulnation in celebrating his life and mourning the loss of one of our greatestleaders, but are strengthened by Senator Kennedy's immortal words: "For all those whose cares have been ourconcern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and thedream shall never die."