[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E134-E135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  OCEAN TOWNSHIP HADASSAH PAYS TRIBUTE TO ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER RABIN

                                 ______


                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 1996

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, in memory and honor of the late Israeli 
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Ocean Township Hadassah in Monmouth 
County, NJ, has pledged a donation to the Hadassah-Hebrew University 
Medical Center at Ein Karem, Israel, so that it may continue its life-
saving work of healing, teaching, and research. I rise today, both to 
pay tribute to the slain Israeli soldier, statesman, and peacemaker, 
and to my friends from the Jersey shore area who are striving to pay a 
lasting tribute to this great world leader.
  Mr. Speaker, I shall never forget September 13, 1995. On that 
brilliantly sunny day I was fortunate to be among those on the White 
House lawn to witness the signing of the Israel-PLO treaty by Prime 
Minister Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat. We witnessed in person, 
as did millions of others the world over who watched on television, an 
event we had hoped for but never really thought we would see. In his 
moving speech, the Prime Minister summed up the feelings of the people 
of Israel and their many strong supporters here in America: ``Enough of 
blood and tears. Enough.''
  Yitzhak Rabin's life in many ways mirrored the history and destiny of 
his country. He fought valiantly in Israel's War of Independence in 
1948. In the Six Day War of 1967, he brilliantly led the Israel Defense 
Forces in a stunning victory that greatly enhanced Israel's security. 
Yet it would still be many years before Israel's recalcitrant Arab 
neighbors were ready to negotiate with the Jewish State. First, Egypt's 
President Anwar Sadat came forward in the cause of peace--and, like 
Yitzhak Rabin, paid with his life at the hands of fellow countrymen who 
were not yet ready to say ``Enough'' to war. Finally, PLO Leader Arafat 
and, more recently, Jordan's King Hussein, also chose the road of peace 
with Israel. During the years that the Arab state of war and economic 
boycott against Israel remained in effect, Yitzhak Rabin stood ready to 
fight, if necessary, to defend Israel's security. Yet, late in his 
career, the Prime Minister had the courage to recognize a changing 
world and to accept, indeed embrace, change. The huge turnout of world 
leaders at Mr. Rabin's funeral demonstrates--including many of his 
former Arab enemies--just how rare and impressive his courage was. 
While most of us will remember Mr. Rabin's gruff demeanor and military 
bearing, minutes before his death, Yitzhak Rabin was smiling and 
singing a song of peace with thousands of Israelis in Tel Aviv.

  On the day of the historic signing of the peace accord, my guest was 
Sharon Portman of Ocean Township, a long-time supporter and leader in 
Ocean Township Hadassah and many other community organizations. Sadly, 
Sharon passed away last summer. Sharon had dedicated so much of her 
time and energy to working for a strong and secure Israel, and believed 
passionately that one day Israel would achieve peace with her Arab 
neighbors. Whenever I think back to that signing ceremony on the White 
House Lawn, there is a tinge of sadness as I think about Sharon.
  Mr. Speaker, Ocean Township Hadassah is a volunteer organization of 
close to 450 women ranging in age from their midtwenties to their 
midfifties. After the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin, members of 
the organization, as well other members of the community, sought a way 
to make a lasting tribute consistent with Mr. Rabin's life-long 
dedication to the betterment of the Jewish State. Prime Minister Rabin 
spoke to the women of Hadassah at their convention in Israel last 
summer, 

[[Page E135]]
praising their fundraising efforts to build and maintain hospitals in 
Israel. The Prime Minister expressed the fervent hope that Hadassah 
Hospital would treat Israeli children for many years--but ``never again 
to be treated due to the ravages of war.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay particular tribute to Elynn Shapiro, 
president of Ocean Township Hadassah, for her leadership in this 
tribute to Yitzhak Rabin, and to the many other citizens of our 
community who have contributed to this most worthy effort.

                          ____________________