[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN TRIBUTE TO THEODORE BIKEL

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2009

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Theodore Bikel on receiving the Creative Leadership Award from the 
National Jewish Theater and the American Theater Festival. Throughout 
his life, Mr. Bikel has displayed an unwavering commitment to arts 
awareness, human rights, and Jewish activism, and his service to our 
nation is truly inspiring. No stranger to the Sunshine State, Theodore 
Bikel was the co-creator, co-author and co-star of the successful play 
Sholom Aleichem Lives, performed in early 1997 in several Florida 
theatres. He is also the writer and star of Sholom Aleichem: Laughter 
Through Tears, which recently had its world premiere in Washington, 
D.C. Additionally, on his long list of accomplishments, Mr. Bikel 
created the role of Baron Von Trapp in the original Broadway production 
of The Sound of Music and starred as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof more 
than 2,000 times. Bikel's career began in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he 
co-founded the Cameri Theatre, and performed classical and modern drama 
in Hebrew. Some of his most prominent honors include receiving an Emmy 
Award in 1988, having held the position of senior vice president of the 
American Jewish Congress, and accepting both a Doctor of Humane Letters 
from Hebrew Union College and the title of MAGGID from the World Union 
for Progressive Judaism. As Mr. Bikel marks his 85th birthday this June 
with a celebratory concert at Carnegie Hall, I feel grateful for this 
talented individual whose artistic vision and civic activism have 
profoundly touched the lives of all Americans.

                          ____________________