[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 108 (Friday, July 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING LAURA COHEN APELBAUM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 17, 2009

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend my constituent 
Laura Cohen Apelbaum on her 15 outstanding years as Executive Director 
of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington.
  Laura's leadership, creativity and vision have profoundly benefitted 
the Jewish Historical Society. Under her guidance, the organization has 
grown in numerous ways, from the size of its staff and facilities to 
the breadth of its educational programming, to the resources of its 
extraordinary archive--making it the premier source in our region for 
Washington Jewish history.
  Laura has a passion that distinguished her among her colleagues early 
on in her career. Within a short time of assuming her position with the 
Jewish Historical Society, she became President of the Council of 
American Jewish Museums--the first national President of this Council 
to come from an institution of such limited size and resources.
  In addition to leading the growth and success of the Jewish 
Historical Society, Laura championed the preservation campaign of the 
historic synagogue at 6th & I Streets, N.W. The synagogue's restoration 
has enabled the Society to complete a Historic Structures Report and an 
Interpretive Plan to implement a permanent installation in the 
synagogue. Laura also guided the development of the award-winning 
exhibition and companion guide Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an 
American Community. This work, and the 22 other exhibitions developed 
under her tenure, have reawakened pride in our community's past and 
provided countless individuals in our area and across the country with 
a new and deeper understanding of Jewish life throughout the centuries 
in Washington.
  Laura's commitment to the Jewish community goes beyond activities in 
the Washington, D.C. area. In 2006 she worked with Congress to 
establish the first Jewish American Heritage Month to acknowledge the 
contributions of Jewish Americans.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking Laura Cohen Apelbaum for 
her 15 years of accomplishments. My appreciation extends as well to her 
husband, Perry Apelbaum, to her children Benjy and Sara, and to her 
parents, Faye and Sheldon Cohen. I am proud to represent Laura and her 
family in the U.S. Congress and am honored to extend my congratulations 
and appreciation to her today.

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