[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 59 (Thursday, May 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E723-E724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING DR. MUNR KAZMIR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 3, 2001

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who 
has dedicated his life to charity and selfless devotion to others. Mr. 
Speaker, I rise to honor my good friend, Munr Kazmir of Fort Lee, New 
Jersey, who is being honored by the Rabbinical College of America with 
an honorary law degree.
  As CEO of Quality Health Care and Direct Meds, success has followed 
Munr to every project he has embarked upon. And he has shared his 
success with others in the Jewish community both in the United States 
and throughout the world.
  There is only one word that can be used to describe how my friend 
Munr lives his life, and it is a word that has a different meaning to 
each who speaks it. The word is ``tzedakah.''
  Giving tzedakah is considered in the Jewish tradition to be a 
religious obligation, a mitzvah. When it comes to defining this word, I 
agree with Rabbi Avi Weinstein, who said, ``Tzedakah, the Jewish term 
for helping the poor, is often translated as `charity.' However, the 
Hebrew root `tzedek' is more closely translated as `justice' or 
`fairness.'''
  What I have found most touching about Dr. Munr Kazmir is that in 
everything he does, there is always a sense of justice and fairness 
that shines through. His work is truly extraordinary and stretches form 
our home state to our homeland. He is active in the UJA Federation of 
Bergen County and North Hudson, and he has also worked tirelessly for 
the Aleh Foundation which benefits the disabled children of Israel and 
Lubavitch Chabad houses around the world. He has also as many of you 
know supported and counseled countless numbers of community leaders on 
the local, state, national, and international level. He has

[[Page E724]]

been honored throughout the New York Metropolitan area, in Washington 
and Tel Aviv.
  Munr is also a forward-thinking person who never loses sight of the 
future: our young people. Born into a culture where he did not have the 
opportunity to receive a Jewish education, he has been a tireless 
advocate to make sure other children have the chance to learn about 
their Jewish heritage.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to congratulate my dear friend Munr Kazmir, 
on the occasion of this well deserved tribute from the Rabbinical 
College of America, and wish him long life, good health and happiness 
in the years to come.

                          ____________________