[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16219]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING PHIL BLAZER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 26, 2011

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I offer my highest congratulations today 
to Mr. Phil Blazer of California on the 5th anniversary of his founding 
of Jewish Life Television (JLTV).
  In 2006, Mr. Blazer initiated America's first full-time Jewish 
television network, which is now seen in all 50 states through DIRECTV, 
along with cable distribution on Comcast, Time Warner and other 
systems.
  Jewish Life Television (JLTV) originates from its headquarters in 
Encino, California and reaches over 36 million households in America 
and over 80 million households across Europe, North Africa, and the 
Middle East. The network's ratings show an audience of 3-4 million 
different households during any given month. Over 160,000 homes watched 
the Kol Nidre-Yom Kippur Service on JLTV.
  Jewish Life Television programming features news, talk shows, 
cooking, comedy, and entertainment. JLTV also broadcasts live events 
including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy 
Conference, the Jewish Federation's General Assembly, the March of the 
Living, and the Maccabiah Games in Israel.
  Mr. Blazer's award-winning weekly television program, Jewish Life, 
was established in 1977, and has featured interviews with prominent 
figures from all walks of life including Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie 
Weisel, Yitzak Rabin, Elizabeth Taylor, and Sandy Koufax. Blazer is the 
editor and publisher of the National Jewish News, which he founded in 
1973. His radio program, Jewish Soul, began broadcasting in 1965 and 
continues to be heard weekly around the world and on the internet.
  During his 46 years of working in Jewish media, Mr. Blazer has played 
a valuable role in numerous projects for the Jewish community and for 
America. He was a key catalyst in the rescue of nearly 1,000 Ethiopian 
Jews through U.S. Government Operation Joshua. Mr. Blazer championed 
California's Holocaust Education bill, led a counter-rally against Neo-
Nazis in Skokie, Illinois, and started dialogue between Jews and 
Gentiles in post-war Berlin.
  Mr. Blazer helps Israelis, the Jewish Diaspora, and America maintain 
strong ties. In addition to the aforementioned activities, he has led 
Hollywood celebrities and other leaders on trips to Israel. He attended 
the 1979 White House Peace Signing Ceremony between Israeli Prime 
Minister Menachem Begin, Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat, and U.S. 
President Jimmy Carter. Prime Minister Begin stated Blazer knows 
``Israel better than any American'' the Israeli Prime Minister had ever 
met and was ``rare'' as a ``true leader'' of the Jewish people.

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