[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2852-2853]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO CHARLES MANDEL

 Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
remarkable accomplishments of Charles Mandel as he prepares to receive 
the Chaver Award from the Highland Park Conservative Temple and Center. 
Charlie was born in Jersey City, where he graduated from William L. 
Dickson High School in 1935. He then went on to graduate from Rutgers 
University with a degree in ceramic engineering in 1939. For the next 
42 years, Charlie worked as a plant manager and ceramic engineer with 
the Willett Company. Following his retirement, Charlie has continued to 
serve as a consulting engineer for New Jersey Porcelain Company and 
Lenape Products Company in Trenton, New Jersey.
  Charlie has been affiliated with the temple since 1953. After 
officially joining the temple in January 1955, he was appointed Gabbai 
and continues as Senior Gabbai to this day. Charlie has also served on 
the Bimah with every temple President from Harry Kroll to the current 
President, Ed Guttenplan. In addition to these duties, Charlie has 
played an integral role in the temple's daily management. He was 
elected to the Temple Board of Trustees in 1955 and has remained there 
continuously, as a Trustee, Recording Secretary and Financial 
Secretary. In recognition of his loyalty and commitment, he was granted 
Honorary Life Membership to the Board of Trustees, a position held by 
only four other people.
  Charlie has been active on the Religious Committee, House Committee, 
Bazaar Committee, and has had the unique experiences of serving on the 
Rabbinical Search Committees for both Rabbi Yakov Hilsenrath and Rabbi 
Eliot Malomet. In addition, he was chairman of the Special Fund Raising 
Committee for forty years. The Special Fund Raising Committee has long 
been a euphemism for Bingo, which balanced the budget for forty years. 
Charlie's dedication to managing Bingo resulted in his giving up a 
myriad of social and family functions on Tuesday evenings.
  There probably is not an inch of the temple building that has not 
benefitted from Charlie's commitment and dedication. He has always been 
willing to give himself to the temple in any capacity whenever and 
wherever called upon. The entire temple community has been enriched by 
Charlie's presence, and they are grateful for his support through the 
years.

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