[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 65 (Monday, May 20, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMENDING THE NORTH AMERICAN BOARD OF RABBIS AND THE GERMAN 
                          EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 20, 2002

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 6th, ten high school 
students from Berlin, Germany, arrived at New York's Kennedy Airport to 
spend two weeks with their Jewish counterparts and families in a pilot 
program designed to foster a better understanding between young Germans 
and the Jewish community in the United States.
  Organized by the North American Board of Rabbis and the Padogischer 
Austauschdient (PAD), the German Educational Ministry in Bonn, the 
exchange was conceived as a means to bridge the gulf that sometimes 
exists between the United States Jewish community and Germany. Some 57 
years have passed since the end of World War II, and Germany has become 
a dynamic and tolerant society that now contains the third largest 
Jewish population on continental Europe. It has also been a stalwart 
friend of Israel and one of America's closest allies.
  The students were warmly received by their host families, and new 
friendships were immediately established. During their time in New York 
City, they had occasion to visit synagogues, learn about Jewish 
traditions, attend local schools, and even engage in the great American 
pastime of enjoying hot dogs while watching the Mets at Shea Stadium. 
Most important, was what the students learned from each other as they 
were embraced by all with whom they came into contact. The German 
students experienced the dynamism of the United States Jewish community 
and came away impressed by both its spirit and commitment to universal 
justice.
  In late August the ten American students who served as hosts will go 
to Berlin, where they no doubt will be as warmly received and will have 
the opportunity to experience the German community.
  Particular praise for this effort should be extended to Rabbi Jay 
Rosenbaum with the North American Boards of Rabbis, Dr. Stefan 
Schleuter, who is Deputy Consul General for Germany in New York, and 
Allienze AG from Munich, Germany, the corporation that fully funded the 
pilot program.
  In closing Mr. Speaker, I want to commend all of the parties involved 
for making this program a huge success. To our young people from Berlin 
and New York, I hope and trust that this experience had expanded your 
horizons and that the exposure will prove enlightening as you soon 
begin your adult life venture.

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