[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 30 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF ABE LEBEWOHL

                                 ______


                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 7, 1996

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my 
constituents and to mourn his tragic and premature death.
  New York truly suffered a devastating loss this week with the death 
of Abe Lebewohl. On Monday, March 4, his life was cut short when a 
robber shot him twice as he went to the bank to make the daily deposit 
for his deli.
  Mr. Lebewohl founded and owned the Second Avenue Deli where he will 
always be remembered as a hard worker, a brilliant businessman, an 
enlightened employer, and a distinguished community leader. A Holocaust 
survivor, he started the deli in 1954 as a 12-seat diner. After 42 
years of hard work, Mr. Lebewohl built it to the current 250-seat 
restaurant that is know all over the world. Not only did the community 
lose a wonderful man and a great entrepreneur, but also one of the last 
links to the historic old Jewish neighborhood of the Lower East Side.
  Abe Lebewohl greeted people by name, gave free sandwiches to homeless 
people or to anyone out of work, and supplies nourishment to workers on 
strike. He made everyone feel like family, never hesitating to give a 
helping hand when they were down on their luck.
  The Second Avenue Deli has become one of their most popular landmarks 
in New York City. Almost every day, famous people come to eat and 
tourists often line up around the block in order to taste one of Abe's 
sandwiches or his soup. But more than anything, Abe's deli was a part 
of his community. It was his neighbors, employees, and family who stood 
outside of the deli on Monday to mourn his passing.
  Mr. Speaker, I would ask that my colleagues join me in sending our 
deepest condolences to Abe's wife, Eleanor, his daughters, his 
grandchildren, his employees, and his friends on this most devastating 
loss.

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