[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 18 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        IN HONOR OF HOWARD JONAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2004

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I want to praise Howard Jonas, a man 
who donates enough to charity to be called a philanthropist, who works 
to better his community, and who is being honored for his work in the 
United States on behalf of Israel.
  Howard was born in the Bronx, attended one of New York City's premier 
schools, Bronx High School of Science, and then went to Harvard 
University, graduating with a B.A. in Economics.
  He has been manifestly successful in his businesses, starting at the 
age of 14 with a hot dog stand near a local hospital. Since then he has 
gone on to travel brochure distribution, business-to-business 
directories, mail-order bonsai Christmas trees, and to run one of the 
country's largest direct mail businesses out of his dorm room at 
Harvard. When one of his employees moved overseas he got into the 
international telephone callback business.
  From there he went on to found IDT in August of 1990, a model of 
upstart entrepreneurship, serving as Chairman of the Board since its 
inception.
  He has been generous in his giving and serves as a trustee on many 
university, religious, and social service organization Boards. He also 
serves as a National Board member of AIPAC where he fosters close 
relations with some of our nation's most prominent leaders on behalf of 
a strong United States-Israeli relationship.
  Finally I speak of him as a close friend, a man from the old 
neighborhood who never forgot where he came from. He is a caring and 
generous man and I am proud that he is my friend.

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