[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 104 (Thursday, June 4, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E516-E517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF DAVID WAKSBERG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 4, 2020

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, David Waksberg became CEO of the Bureau of 
Jewish Education in 2007, and retires on
  June 30, 2020, from his leadership of what is now Jewish 
LearningWorks. During his well-earned retirement he will spend more 
time with his wife and three adult children, and he plans to write and 
participate in political and environmental activism.
  David Waksberg's leadership of Jewish LearningWorks can only be 
called extraordinary. He is hailed by many as a great negotiator, 
intentional listener and a collaborator who respects and honors the 
opinions of others. During his tenure he helped renew synagogue schools 
and brought in new ideas for teaching. He expanded family learning 
programs, created greater opportunities for children with special 
needs, and initiated policy changes at synagogues and day schools which 
were all designed to make everyone welcome.
  David formerly served as the Executive Director of the Bay Area 
Council for Soviet Jews where he created programs that connected Bay 
Area Jews with those in the Soviet Union. He developed excellent 
relationships with the Bay Area Congressional Delegation and was a 
strong advocate for refuseniks and for the Soviet Jews who came to the 
Bay Area after the collapse of the USSR. Between his two positions with 
Jewish agencies, David worked at a high-tech company, but his heart was 
always with service to the Jewish community.

[[Page E517]]

  David credits his commitment to Judaism and Jewish education to a 
photograph in his Polish grandparents' home in the Bronx, of their 
families in Poland. All except those who had gone to America or Israel, 
including David's father, were killed by the Nazis. Also in that home 
was an inscription that asked ``What have you done today on behalf of 
your people and your land?''
  David Waksberg said ``For me, Jewish thought, tradition and wisdom 
from the last few thousand years really helped me be a better husband, 
father, son, brother, friend, neighbor and citizen. All this wisdom 
contributed to what some would call happiness. It helped me lead a good 
life. And that's the point of it all.''
  Madam Speaker, we ask the entire House of Representatives to join us 
in honoring the extraordinary leadership and legacies of David 
Waksberg. His mission of promoting and furthering Jewish education has 
bettered our communities and made our nation stronger because of all he 
has chosen to do.

                          ____________________