[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 133 (Friday, August 4, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING ELISA MARCUS AND DROR BIKEL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 2017

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is vitally important that we recognize 
those who strengthen our communities through their involvement. For the 
Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel in Riverdale, two of those 
individuals are Elisa Marcus and Dror Bikel, who are being honored this 
year with CSAIR's Kehillah Award at their annual Spring Gala.
  Elisa grew up in Dayton, Ohio, where participating in shul life was a 
given and Shabbat meant going to synagogue and being with family and 
friends. Dror took a different path to Jewish involvement. Born in 
Berkeley, California to Israeli parents, then living in Brookline, 
Massachusetts, Dror was not particularly involved in formal Jewish 
life. While he was studying at Brandeis University, his interest in 
Israel and Jewish life awakened. Both Elisa and Dror spent formative 
years studying in Israel. They later found themselves and each other on 
the Upper West Side, where their friendships and involvement in the 
community of young Jews brought them together.
  Fast forward to Riverdale and CSAIR. Through Mason Voit, CSAIR 
Director of Education and Family Life, Elisa was drawn to serve the 
shul. For three years she led the Young Children's Family Program and 
joined the Board of Trustees. She played an important role in a three-
year review of the synagogue's mission statement and currently serves 
as the Vice President for Education.
  Dror's passion for Krav Maga first led him to teaching evening 
classes in the synagogue, then to answering a call by CSAIR president 
Abby Pitkowsky and Rabbi Katz to lead CSAIR's security program. His 
work led to the hiring of a security consultant to help with the 
acquisition and implementation of $100,000 in grants to improve the 
building's access control, physical structure, and communication 
system.
  The character of the community is something Dror and Elisa care 
deeply about. Their children, Ariel, 9, and Liat, 7 love being in the 
building, attending services, and have developed great friendships. 
From the beginning of their involvement, Elisa and Dror have been 
struck by the degree to which people care about CSAIR and want to be 
involved, and it shows through their dedication and service. 
Congratulations to them both on receiving this great honor.

                          ____________________