[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO RICHARD M. LOBENTHAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 3, 1996

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, as this session ends, an era is coming to an 
end in Michigan. After 32 years of commitment and dedication, Richard 
M. Lobenthal has led an impassioned fight against prejudice and 
discrimination as it affects all human beings. As the Michigan director 
of ADL, Mr. Lobenthal established a reputation as an advocate for the 
Jewish community speaking out against anti-Semitism and hate crimes.
  The mission of the Anti-Defamation League is to preserve and 
translate into greater effectiveness the ideals of American Democracy. 
Mr. Lobenthal's advancement of this mission encompassed all minorities 
and extended beyond the borders of the United States.
  Mr. Lobenthal has served in leadership positions on various boards 
and has been the recipient of numerous awards. He is a founder and past 
president of the Ecumenical Institute for Jewish-Christian Studies. He 
is also a founding board member of the Michigan Coalition for Human 
Rights and served as a cochair of the Bias Crimes Response Task Force 
of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Appointed by Governor 
Blanchard in 1987, Mr. Lobenthal served on the Michigan Council for the 
Humanities. In 1989, he was appointed by the Michigan Chiefs of Police 
as a consultant on anti-democratic movements.
  In 1989, Mr. Lobenthal's expertise was sought by the West German 
government in their study of social and political movements in Europe 
and Germany and their effects on democratic structure. In 1993, Mr. 
Lobenthal was named as an American consultant to an international 
conference in Sofia, Bulgaria aimed at reducing ethnic tension.
  I have been privileged to know Dick Lobenthal personally. For three 
decades, he has been a leader in the fight against injustice, anywhere 
and at anytime. Indeed, all of us have benefitted from his untiring 
efforts and dedication. He will be deeply missed.

                          ____________________