[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF SIMHA LAINER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2003

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sherman and I rise today to pay tribute 
to our good friend, Simha Lainer who will be celebrating his 100th 
birthday at a dinner and reception hosted by the New Community Jewish 
High School on Sunday, December 14, 2003. Simha has been a cornerstone 
of the Jewish community in Los Angeles for many years, and he continues 
to play an active role in the promotion of Jewish education and many 
other worthy causes.
  Simha was born in the Ukraine. As a young man, he spent time in the 
Middle East, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Mexico. He immigrated to the 
United States with his family in 1951. Although he worked in the 
textile industry, and later in real estate, his passion has always been 
education.
  Simha, along with his wife Sara(z''l) and his three remarkable sons 
Mark, Nahum and Luis, who in their own right have supported so many 
worthy causes, have pioneered efforts to make a Jewish education 
available to as many children as possible. In 1989, Simha and his 
family established the Simha and Sara Lainer Fund for Jewish Education. 
As a result of this fund, the Los Angeles Bureau of Jewish Education 
has provided financial aid to many students that otherwise would have 
been unable to study the Torah. The fund has also provided Simha and 
his family an opportunity to honor religious schoolteachers and early 
childhood educators for their hard work and dedication.
  Simha has also provided critical leadership to promote upper levels 
of Jewish education. For example, he served on the Board of Directors 
at the University of Judaism, the Board of Trustees of the Jewish 
Community Foundation, and the Board of the West Coast Friends of Bar 
Ilan University. Simha is also the founder of the Western Region of 
American Friends of the Hebrew University.
  In addition to his many educational achievements here in the United 
States, Simha has also displayed an unwavering commitment to the 
establishment and maintenance of Israeli institutions of education. 
Thanks to his leadership and vision, thousands of Israeli and American 
children will be prepared to lead productive lives and promote 
religious and cultural tolerance.
  Mr. Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join us in saluting Simha for 
all of his outstanding contributions and to wish him a happy 100th 
birthday.

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