[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 127 (Monday, November 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE TO THE AUSTRIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN NEW YORK AND THE RAV TOV 
                INTERNATIONAL JEWISH RESCUE ORGANIZATION

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2006

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the 
Austrian Consulate in New York as they honor one of my district's 
outstanding human rights groups, The Rav Tov International Jewish 
Rescue Organization.
  Founded in 1973, at the behest of the former Grand Rabbi of Satmar, 
Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of blessed memory, in 1973, Rav Tov was initially 
established to rescue the persecuted Jewish community living in the 
former Soviet Union. Rabbi Teitelbaum, himself a survivor of the 
Holocaust, saw his family perish at the hands of the Nazis. He 
envisioned Rav Tov as the protective shield for the global Jewish 
community living in tyrannical regimes.
  Rav Tov's heroic accomplishments of rescuing and resettling Soviet 
Jewry was only possible with the unflinching cooperation and support of 
the Austrian government, which hosted the refugees as they waited for 
their final resettlement. It is estimated that 367,000 Jews stayed in 
Vienna between 1968-1989 rebuilding their often shattered lives in free 
countries. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the focus of Rav 
Tov's and Austrian efforts have been to save other endangered Jewish 
communities that still exist around the world.
  As a result of the enduring bonds between Rav Tov and the Austrian 
government, the Austrian Federal President, Dr. Heinz Fischer, has 
decided to confer the prestigious Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold to 
Rabbi David Niederman, Rav Tov's Chief Executive for over three 
decades, which will be presented to him at a ceremony today at the 
Austrian Consulate in New York. This wonderful event is not only a 
testament to the resolve of the Austrian government in saving Jews in 
peril, but a celebration of the strong relationship between the United 
States and Austria.
  Mr. Speaker, as Rav Tov's representative in Congress, I have been 
privileged to work with them and the Austrian government on many 
pressing issues facing Jews in danger. I would like to particularly 
make mention of Austria's New York Consul General Brigitta Blaha and 
the Deputy Consul General Andreas Launer for their tireless work on Rav 
Tov's behalf. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me today in 
commending the Austrian government and Rav Tov for their phenomenal 
partnership in rescuing Jews around the world living in fear and 
danger.

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