[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 28 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ON THE DEDICATION OF THE WILLIAM DAVIDSON GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JEWISH 
                               EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 1997

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in 
commending Mr. William Davidson, president and CEO of Guardian 
Industries Corp. and managing partner of the National Basketball 
Association's Detroit Pistons Basketball Club, on the dedication today 
of the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education at the 
Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City. This event is 
an important milestone in the history of the Jewish Theological 
Seminary and will ensure that future generations of scholars have the 
opportunity to study in one of America's premier centers for Jewish 
learning.
  This new addition to the world's scholarly institutions is only the 
latest of Bill Davidson's outstanding contributions to the field of 
education and just another example of his philanthropy. As the founder 
of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan 
Business School in Ann Arbor, Bill Davidson endowed an institution 
whose purpose is to help nations--such as the countries of Central and 
Eastern Europe and the Republics of the former Soviet Union--make 
successful transitions from command to market economies. As the founder 
of the William Davidson Business School at Technion--Israel Institute 
of Technology in Haifa, Israel, Bill Davidson created the world's first 
educational institution entirely dedicated to the international 
management of technology-based companies.
  Bill Davidson's commitment to education and the Jewish people has 
been recognized through the awards bestowed upon him for his service 
over the years. Among those awards, Bill was the recipient in 1992 of 
the Fred M. Butzel Memorial Award for Distinguished Community Service, 
the Jewish community's highest award for volunteer service. He has 
served as chairman of the United Jewish Appeal for Detroit and as 
president of Congregation Sha'arey Zedek. Most recently, he has 
demonstrated his continuing commitment to Israel through his funding of 
the William Davidson Community Center in Yavne, Israel, and the 
restoration of the William Davidson Second Temple Period Archeological 
Park and Orientation Garden in the city of Jerusalem, Israel.
  Mr. Speaker, the dedication of the Davidson Graduate School of Jewish 
Education is only the latest outstanding accomplishment in a career of 
philanthropy for education and Jewish causes that knows few rivals. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in commending Bill Davidson for his 
vision and commitment to education and the Jewish people.

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