[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 12, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A VISION FOR GENERATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2004

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to three generations 
of the Abelson/Lasker families and Dr. Emil and Mrs. Erika Jacoby. All 
of these remarkable people will be honored at a special Adat Ari El 
dinner on May 16, 2004, appropriately themed, ``A Vision for 
Generations.''
  Irv and Marcia Abelson, their children, and now their grandchildren 
have assumed key leadership positions and worked hard to build, support 
and improve Adat An El and the Jewish community. They have also 
provided critical support for a myriad of Jewish institutions both in 
Los Angeles and around the world, including Camp Ramah, the University 
of Judaism (UJ), the New Community Jewish High School, L.A. Hebrew High 
School, Heschel Day School, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the 
Women's League for Conservative Judaism, the Masorti Foundation for 
Conservative Judaism in Israel and the Bureau of Jewish Education.
  Both Marcia and Irv have proven to be an indispensable part of the 
Adat Ari El community in so many ways. In addition to serving as Adat 
Ari El's Sisterhood President, Marcia worked with members of the Torah 
Fund for the Jewish Theological Seminary and the UJ.
  Their daughter Jill was the second woman to ever become President of 
Adat Ari El. She was Vice President and Chairperson at the University 
of Judaism and served on various UJ committees for many years. Her 
husband, Marty Lasker, blows shofar--not an easy task--every year for 
the High Holy Days. He serves on several important Boards for 
organizations such as the New Community Jewish High School, Hebrew High 
School and Adat Ari El. My family and I are proud to call ourselves 
neighbors and friends of Jill and Marty.
  The Laskers' children, Zachary and Jodi, continue in their parents' 
and grandparents' tradition of involvement and service. Zachary starred 
in several United Synagogue Youth (USY) plays and was President of the 
USY Chapter while in high school. Jodi worked at the Temple and was a 
USY Director during high school. Zachary has a masters degree in 
education from the UJ and Jodi holds an MBA and masters degree in 
education from the University. Both Zachary and Jodi have worked at 
Camp Ramah in California for many years in a variety of leadership 
positions. Currently Zachary is the assistant director for the camp and 
Jodi teaches at the Heschel Middle School in Northridge.
  The Humanitarian Award recipients, Emil and Erika Jacoby, have also 
made invaluable contributions to Adat Ari El and are role models for 
all of us. Dr. Emil Jacoby worked in the Underground during WWII to 
help save Jews in Nazi-occupied countries. After the war he helped 
relocate displaced Jews to Israel. For many years he headed the 
Temple's religious school and served as Head of the Bureau of Jewish 
Education. He has a doctorate in education from the Jewish Theological 
Seminary, and was director of education for 16 years at Camp Ramah 
during the summer months and was also an adjunct professor at the 
Teachers Institute at the UJ.
  Erika Jacoby taught in Adat Ari El's nursery school and served on 
many synagogue committees. She chaired the Holocaust Remembrance 
Committee which resulted in the dedication of a Holocaust Memorial 
Pillar. Erika also gives generously of her time and energy to speak 
with school children about her experience as a Holocaust survivor.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in saluting 
these incredibly accomplished and impressive people who have 
demonstrated an outstanding commitment to Adat Ari El and a longtime 
commitment to public service.

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