[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 156 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2045-E2046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONGRATULATIONS TO BERNIE AND REEVA NOWITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PAUL TONKO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 2, 2010

  Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I would like to call the attention of the 
House to the remarkable accomplishments of Reeva and Bernie Nowitz as 
The Israel Center, a program of Jewish Educational Resources of New 
York, JERNY, prepares to honor them later this week.
  Bernie Nowitz is a retired pharmacist. As the former president of 
Burns Pharmaceuticals in Rensselaer, New York, Bernie served my 
constituents faithfully for 24 years. After his retirement, he worked 
as a pharmacy consultant and then as a volunteer for the Schenectady 
Free Clinic. He has served as a board member of Jewish Family Services, 
and is a past president of Temple Beth El in Troy, where he currently 
serves on the Religious Committee.
  As part of a fact-finding mission, Bernie traveled to the former 
Soviet Union and Austria to understand the plight of Jewish refugees. 
He has also traveled to Israel with the Volunteers for Israel project 
on two separate occasions. Bernie and his wife, Reeva, have been strong 
supporters of Israel since their first trip 35 years ago. They have 
been long-time supporters of JERNY and Hadassah as well.
  Reeva Nowitz, who is also being honored by JERNY, was Vice President 
of Burns Pharmaceuticals, working alongside her husband. Since her 
retirement she has been involved with the Jewish Federation, serving as 
president of the Women's Division and has been on the boards of the 
Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York and the Daughters of Sarah 
Foundation. She is the current president of Temple Beth El in Troy and 
helped in the formation of the Albany Area Jewish Cemetery Association 
of Northeastern New York.
  Reeva and Bernie are shining examples of Americans who actively 
demonstrate their commitment to their family, their community and their 
faith. Bernie often assists Reeva with her duties at Temple Beth El of 
Troy where

[[Page E2046]]

she has served as president for several years. Together with the other 
families that make up this small but active congregation, Temple Beth 
El has come to be known in the community as a place where friends and 
family gather each week for informal services. There, spiritual leader 
Alan Bell works with the members to develop weekly educational and 
religious activities for members and non-members alike. The services 
are inclusive and accessible, bringing children and grandchildren into 
active participation during worship.
  The Nowitzs have lived the dream of seeing their love survive many 
decades, as their children grow to be fine adults and their family 
blossoms to include grandchildren. They have been members of Temple 
Beth El for more than 50 years and attended Hebrew School there. Reeva 
was born in nearby Cohoes. Bernie was born in the Bronx and moved 
upstate to Troy at age three.
  Reeva and Bernie have been married for more than 46 happy years and 
have been part of the Temple Beth El and Troy community for that entire 
time. They have been blessed with two daughters, Cheryl and Nicole, 
Cheryl and Nicole. Cheryl is married to Anthony Klein and they live in 
Palto Alto, California with their children Alex and Daniel. Nicole 
works in real estate in New York City.
  I ask my colleagues to pause to congratulate Reeva and Bernie for 
being among the honorees at the Israel Heroes Dinner on Thursday, 
December 2, 2010.

                          ____________________