[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 110 (Friday, June 23, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING DANA GERSHON

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 23, 2023

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
leadership of Dana Gershon, whose term as Board President of the 
National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) comes to an end on June 30th. 
She has helped to navigate and grow the organization despite a tenure 
that coincided with COVID. She is a dedicated, tireless, and passionate 
advocate for women, children, and families who has represented the 
organization to world leaders including President Joe Biden, Vice 
President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Dana has 
guided the organization through our Jewish values of b'tzelem Elohim, 
we are all created in G-d's image; kavod ha bri'ot, respect and dignity 
for all and tzedek tirdof, the pursuit of justice. These values inform 
her perspective, inspire her efforts, and drive her work to ensure 
everyone has the full range of health care, enough to eat, and a safe 
place to call home; in which we can all each achieve financial security 
while caring for our health and family; in which every young person is 
affirmed at school, gets unbiased information about their health, and 
is safe; that no matter who we are or where we are from, we all can 
access education, economic opportunities, and a court system committed 
to justice for all; and in which our democracy is strong and stable.
  Dana has been a leader and trusted partner of mine, organizing 
grassroots advocacy efforts for critical legislative priorities, 
including the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, the Black 
Maternal Health Momnibus Package, the Immigrant Safety and Empowerment 
(WISE) Act, the Violence Against Women Act, the Bipartisan Safer 
Communities Act, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, the assault 
weapons ban and countless other initiatives that would enhance equity 
and social justice.
  Dana Gershon has been a social justice activist and leader in the 
Jewish community since high school. A graduate of Combined Jewish 
Philanthropy's (CJP) Acharai program, Dana held a number of leadership 
positions during the nearly twenty years that she and her family lived 
in Boston: she served as President of the Board of Trustees of the 
Rashi School (the Boston area Reform Jewish Day School) from 2010-2012 
and was Co-Chair CJP's Boston-Haifa Connection. Dana was instrumental 
in the founding of Parents at the Center in Haifa, Israel, early 
intervention for underserved children and their families. She has been 
a Director on the national board of NCJW since 17, and is a member of 
the Executive Council of the Conference of Presidents of Major American 
Jewish Organizations.
  Dana's work has been expansive and impactful and I thank her for her 
collaboration and best in her future endeavors.

                          ____________________