[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 1428-1429]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING ELLIOT FORCHHEIMER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2015

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, community partners who are truly dedicated to 
serving the public good are an invaluable asset to any elected official 
in government. As the Representative of New York's 16th district I have 
had the pleasure of working with some truly remarkable community 
leaders, none more remarkable than my dear friend, Westchester Jewish 
Council Executive Director Elliot Forchheimer.
  Raised in Kew Gardens, Queens, Elliot's love affair with Jewish 
communal life started at the legendary Cejwin Camps, where he was 
inspired to pursue a career in the Jewish community. He became an 
Administrator at Camp Ramah and went on the join the Young Israel of 
Scarsdale, where he was a Youth Director for six years under the 
mentorship of the late Rabbi Jacob Rubenstein.
  In 1996 Elliot joined the UJA-Federation of New York in the Program 
Services department, serving in a position focused on camps and JCC's. 
Shortly thereafter he became the very first Director of Westchester 
Program Services and Agency Relations for UJA-Federation's Westchester 
Office. After a stint at Synagogue 2000, Elliot returned to UJA-
Federation's Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal, focusing on 
synagogue relations.

[[Page 1429]]

  Elliot's greatest professional privilege however has been serving for 
the last 10 years as the Executive Director of the Westchester Jewish 
Council. In this role he has steered the proverbial ship at WJC, 
working with elected officials, community groups, and over 150 Jewish 
organizations that span the breadth of Jewish expression. Elliot has 
helped ensure that Westchester remains a bastion of mutual respect and 
cooperation amongst all community members.
  In addition to his phenomenal career achievements, Elliot has created 
an incredible legacy at home, with his beloved wife, Joan, and their 
two children, Ilana and Jacob. They are his true pride and joy.
  This year, the WJC is honoring Elliot at their 39th Anniversary Gala 
for all he has done to better the Westchester community. I am honored 
to be able to congratulate Elliot on this incredible achievement, and I 
am even more honored to be able to call this incredible community 
partner my friend.

                          ____________________