[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 109 (Wednesday, August 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1555-E1556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE PASSING OF LEOPOLD LEFKOWITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 5, 1998

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my sad duty to inform our colleagues 
of the passing of an outstanding, remarkable constituent of my 20th 
Congressional District of New York, who happened also to be a unique 
American who in many ways personified the American dream.
  Leopold Lefkowitz, known and beloved by his followers as Reb Leibish, 
was 79 years young when he died this past weekend, but many lifetimes 
were crammed into his busy, productive life.
  He was born in Europe at a time when that continent was just 
beginning to deal with the devastation of World War One. His family 
worked diligently to overcome economic hardship, but their labors 
resulted only in the hard heel of oppression when the Nazis came to 
power and began their relentless persecution of Jews and other 
minorities. Leibish Lefkowitz was fortunate enough to escape during 
World War Two, and he settled with the Hasidic community in Brooklyn, 
NY.
  In those years, Reb Leibish enjoyed great success with a glass 
company he founded, the Crystal Clear Importing Inc., which was 
headquartered in Ridgefield, NJ. He and his wife, Dinah, raised two 
children. As Reb Leibish became more and more prominent in charitable 
and philanthropic enterprises, Dinah became known as a dynamic industry 
leader, guiding Crystal Clear Importing to phenomenal growth.
  In the early 1970's, when the need to establish a new Hasidic home in 
upstate New York became apparent, it was Reb Leibish, Leopold 
Lefkowitz, who founded the Monfield Homes Company which purchased 172 
acres in the Town of Monroe. It was his dream that the Hasidic 
community moving to this new homestead--the Village of Kiryas Joel--
would come to live in peace and harmony with their neighbors. This was 
a goal he worked for from that time until the day of his death.
  During the first twenty years of Kiryas Joel's existence, Reb Leibish 
Lefkowitz served as his community's elected Mayor. In that capacity, he 
was not only the temporal leader of the Hasidic village, he was also 
the strong right arm of its religious leaders.
  Leibish was president of Brooklyn's Congregation Yetev Lev and the 
United Talmudical Academy, to which he donated substantial funds over 
the years. He was well known for his compassion and his charity in 
helping many people in need throughout the years.
  The number of charitable and community service causes in which 
Leibish Lefkowitz immersed himself is truly awesome. Still legendary is 
the tale of how he put together a coalition of environmentalists, 
religious and ethnic leaders, families, and other concerned citizens to 
successfully fight the construction of a garbage incinerator in the 
heart of the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn during the early days of 
Mayor Koch's administration. The incinerator would not only have been a 
threat to the cause of clean air and to the health of the neighborhood, 
it would have totally destroyed the cohesiveness of the various ethnic 
groups who have made that neighborhood famous. Leibish earned the 
respect not only of Mayor Koch but his entire administration for the 
masterly, gentlemanly way he revealed the folly of this incinerator 
plan.
  On May 25, 1987, then-Governor Mario Cuomo of New York presented Mr. 
and Mrs. Lefkowitz with a citation on the occasion of their being feted 
at the annual Door of Hope Banquet of the Pesach Tikvah Hope 
Development Company. The Governor noted that: ``Reb Leibish has been a 
recognized and respected leader of the Hasidic community. His numerous 
leadership positions and organizations include the Presidency of 
Congregation Yetev Lev D'Satmar and United Talmudical Academy, Founder 
and Mayor of the Village of Kiryas Joel, Chairman of the Board of 
United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, Founder and President of 
Opportunity Development Association, Founder and President of 
S.A.T.M.R. School for Special Children, along with contributions to 
uncounted charitable and educational institutions.''

[[Page E1556]]

  The Governor's citation continued: ``His work on behalf of the 
community could not have succeeded without the support and active 
encouragement of his wonderful helpmate, Dinah.''
  Reb Leibish ironically died on Tisha B'av, one of the most solemn of 
all Jewish holidays. Over 5,000 persons attended his funeral service, 
where he was eulogized by grieving mourners as a genuine friend of all.
  Leopold leaves behind his wife, Dinah, two children, Abraham and 
Chana, several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He also leaves 
behind a legacy of humanity that all would be well advised to emulate.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite our colleagues to join with us in expressing 
our condolences to the family, friends, and many admirers of Reb 
Leibish Lefkowitz.

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