[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 165 (Friday, November 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              JOHN FISHEL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 6, 2009

  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, we are honored to pay tribute to our 
friend, John R. Fishel on the occasion of his retirement from the 
Jewish Federation, and honor him for his decades of invaluable service 
to our community.
  John has spent decades of his life at work with non-profit 
organizations and charitable groups. He has earned high esteem and 
respect for his diligence and hard work as well as his many 
achievements and contributions to these causes.
  During his time with the Jewish Federation, his attentive management 
style, vision, and dedication resulted in many innovative projects 
which transformed the organization. He created the Tel Aviv/Los Angeles 
partnership, a new way to nurture a close relationship with Israel and 
bring the people of these two cities together. In recent years, he 
launched efforts to engage young Jewish professionals in The New 
Leaders Project, a civic leadership training program for young adults. 
Under his leadership, many valuable programs were developed, such as 
KOREH L.A., a literacy program and Fed Up With Hunger, a community-wide 
movement to end hunger in Los Angeles. His effective leadership was 
especially evident following the Northridge earthquake and the 1999 
shooting at the North Valley Jewish Community Center. His work to 
encourage increased support for Israel was on display during the second 
Intifada and Israel's war with Hezbollah. His resilience in these times 
of trouble was a calming source of inspiration to the community.
  Prior to his service at the Federation, he worked tirelessly as the 
top professional executive at the Allied Jewish Community Services (the 
local Jewish Federation) in Montreal, Canada, at the Hebrew Immigrant 
Aid Society (HIAS) and the Council Migration Services in Philadelphia, 
as planning associate at the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Greater 
Philadelphia, and as a resource developer for the Ohio State Department 
of Health.
  Mr. Fishel graduated with a Bachelors degree in anthropology and a 
master of social welfare administration and policy from the University 
of Michigan. He and his wife, Karen, have one daughter, Jessica. They 
live in Cheviot Hills.
  Madam Speaker and distinguished colleagues, we ask you to join me in 
saluting John R. Fishel for his impressive career and dedication to the 
community and The Jewish Federation, and to congratulate him on the 
occasion of his retirement.

                          ____________________