[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF ITCHE GOLDBERG CELEBRATED ON APRIL 25, 
                                  2004

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                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2004

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my constituent, 
Itche Goldberg on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Itche is at once 
a leader, scholar and educator, yet he still remains a student. It is 
rare to encounter a man who has achieved as much as Itche has, but that 
is not what truly makes Itche unique. What sets Itche apart from those 
few who can match his accomplishments is his continued passion to 
learn, explore and delve further into the subjects he studies. The 
greatest beneficiary of Itche's work has never been Itche himself, but 
rather those who have had the pleasure of reading his works and the 
work he has translated and for the important role he has played in 
preserving the Yiddish language.
  Itche began his path of scholarship in Canada, where he studied 
philosophy, political economics and German. At the age of twenty, he 
was already teaching in the Toronto Workmen Circle Folkshul, the first 
step onto a path of instruction that extended to Philadelphia and New 
York as well. His lectures have been in both Yiddish and English, 
covering Jewish culture and literature. From 1970 to 1985, Itche was 
professor of Yiddish language and literature at Queens College of the 
City University of New York.
  From 1936 to 1951, Itche edited Yungvarg, a Yiddish children's 
magazine, and others for both parents and teachers. During that time, 
he wrote many children's stories in Yiddish. Also among Itche's work 
are numerous Yiddish textbooks he authored, and even more he edited. As 
Director of the Service Bureau for Jewish Education and the Zhitlowsky 
Foundation, Itche's mission was to make sure these books were not only 
produced, but also provided to their target audiences in Jewish secular 
schools. Itche was also recently awarded the prestigious Raoul 
Wallenberg medal.
  Today, Itche goes to the office every day to ensure that the journal 
he is editor-in-chief of, Yiddishe Kultur, sees continued life. Even 
after forty years on the job, he remains tirelessly devoted to the 
endurance of one of the few surviving quality journals published in 
Yiddish language worldwide.
  In a society such as ours, which values hard work, education and 
culture, Itche Goldberg is priceless. A child wishing to study Yiddish 
culture can turn to Itche's work at every stage of life; whether it is 
his children's stories, textbooks, journals or upcoming second volume 
of essays. Itche is an asset to us all, and I feel privileged to honor 
him for his profound contributions towards the preservation of Yiddish, 
and for doing so with such an inspiring passion. Mir shatsn op ayer 
vunderlekhe arbet l'toyves der yidisher kultur vos hot baraikhert dem 
gontsn Yidishn yishev. (English Translation ``We honor your wonderful 
work for the benefit of Yiddish culture which enriches all of Yiddish 
heritage.'')

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