[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 79 (Friday, June 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RABBI TOMER AND EFRAT GROSSMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 3, 2011

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Tomer and Efrat Grossman moved to 
Riverdale from Israel three years ago as Jewish Agency Shlichim of Bnei 
Akiva. Rabbi Grossman worked as the main Shaliach of Bnei Akiva in 
North America, and helped run Bnei Akiva activities at the Hebrew 
Institute of Riverdale.
  In response to the warmth of the HIR community and its strong 
connection and commitment to Medinat Israel, Rabbi Grossman organized 
an Israeli Seder, an Israeli Minyan for Simchat Torah and two 
fundraisers--one after the Carmel Fire and another for poor families in 
Israel.
  During his stay in Riverdale, Rabbi Tomer was appointed by the Jewish 
Agency as the Head of Formal Educational Shlichim in North America and 
as the main organizer of the National Bible Contest. He is currently 
the rabbi at Brandeis School in Long Island.
  Tomer was born in Petach-Tikva and learned at Yeshivat Hagolan in 
Hispin. He served in the army as a tank commander and as a Division 
Rabbi in the Reserved Forces, in addition to working as a programming 
manager at Motorola.
  Efrat, as a designer, immediately fell in love with the HIR 
community's creativity and open mindedness and participated in last 
year's Shavuot programs and gave a lecture in Hebrew.
  Efrat works as a Hebrew literacy teacher at Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High 
School for Girls as well as a pottery artist. Efrat was born in 
Jerusalem, and continues a dynasty of more than 10 generations in 
Israel. In Israel, she was head of the Visual Arts Department of Ariel 
University after serving as the Head of the Jewish Education Faculty at 
Emunah High School in Tiberias.
  They have two daughters: Ayala, 8, and Hallel, 8 months old.
  This marvelous couple is being honored by the Hebrew Institute of 
Riverdale with the Community Service Award, and I join HIR in 
congratulating them and thanking them for all their good work in our 
community.

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