[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 77 (Tuesday, June 4, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E787-E788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING SUSAN SCHWARTZ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2013

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, Susan Schwartz has performed an almost 
endless array of services for Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of 
Riverdale since she first visited the Synagogue in 1984 pregnant with 
twins.
  Initially Susan enrolled in a learners' service that met on Shabbat. 
Later she was a liaison from the Parents Association to the Board of 
Trustees, which led to her serving four years as Chair of the Education 
Board. Afterwards she served on the Board of Trustees and on the 
Mission Statement Committee.
  She has served as a member of the Search Committees for Rabbi, 
Cantor, Assistant Rabbi, Education Director, and, twice, for an 
Executive Director. She served as President of CSAIR for five years 
during which time $1.2 million was raised in a capital campaign to 
redesign the Sanctuary, Social Hall and main synagogue entrance. 
Accessibility--both spiritual and physical--was an important aspect of 
the work that was accomplished during the renovation.
  After stepping down as President, Susan spent two years with a 
wonderful, engaging group of women, studying together for their bat 
mitzvah, which they celebrated together in 2010. Susan has spent more 
than 10 years as a member of, or the chair of, the High Holiday honors 
committee and has had the honor of giving honors and of assisting on 
the bimah on Shabbat and on the high holidays. She is currently Chair 
of the Ritual and Religious Life Committee.
  Susan is a learning disability specialist and a dedicated advocate 
for children with special needs. She has specific expertise in child 
development, reading and literacy, learning disorders, and the 
development of language skills and higher-level reasoning skills in 
children and adolescents. She is a significant public voice on learning 
accommodations and special education services in our schools.
  Susan spent 13 years as the Clinical Director of the Institute for 
Learning and Academic Achievement at the NYU Child Study Center then 
for two years the Clinical Director of the Learning and Diagnostics 
Center at the Child Mind Institute. She is currently one of two 
learning specialists in the Lower School at Friends Seminary in 
Manhattan.

[[Page E788]]

  She hails from a large, close-knit multi-generational family spanning 
in age from newborn to age 93.
  It is a joy and pleasure to join with Conservative Synagogue Adath 
Israel of Riverdale in honoring Susan Schwartz for her many and myriad 
accomplishments for the synagogue and, ultimately for her community. We 
are all better off for her being among us.

                          ____________________