E1006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks June 5, 2001 our nation’s increased dedication and commit- vest, a statewide food program, is stepping He was both an illustrious and industrious stu- ment to eradicating HIV/AIDS. down at the age of 72. Ms. Velozo began dent who served as a student rabbi in several In 1990, Congress passed the Ryan White working for Northwest Harvest in 1967 and be- congregations while writing a thesis and pre- Comprehensive Resources Emergency came executive director in 1980. As a result of paring for written and oral examinations for the (CARE) Act. I am proud to say that here in her guidance and hard work, the agency grew Master of Hebrew Literature Degree. On this sometimes divisive body, we were able to from an ecumenical ministry with a debt of weekends, then student rabbi Raiskin tended come together and vote unanimously for the $35,000 to a $20 million dollar a year charity. both a reluctant furnace and a willing new reauthorization of the Act in 2000, thereby as- Last year, Northwest Harvest collected and congregation in East Hartford, Connecticut. On sisting metropolitan areas and states with their distributed 16.5 million pounds of food to the the High Holy Days he was assigned to con- health care costs and support services for in- poor and the hungry. Northwest Harvest has duct Conservative services in Lake Hopat- dividuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS. four distribution centers in the state through cong, New Jersey, a bungalow community This legislation is vital to helping those who which food is donated to 283 hunger pro- where Rabbi Raiskin served as rabbi, cantor, are most affected by this disease and who grams. torah reader and blew the shofar. In addition, often do not have the means to combat this Mr. Speaker, Ruth Velozo grew up during he organized a religious school in Merrick, disease. Shortly after we passed the Ryan the Great Depression. She learned the devas- Long Island, and taught Hebrew to children in White CARE Act, I received a letter from a tation of poverty and hunger. Through Amer- Trenton, New Jersey and was awarded two former student of mine who has been living ica’s prosperous upswings and economic academic prizes before his ordination in June, with AIDS. In her touching letter, my former downturns, she never abandoned her deter- 1951. student applauded our efforts here in Con- mination to help those who are left out. She Mr. Speaker, after his ordination Rabbi gress, ‘‘I am very pleased that we have seen has dedicated her life not only to feeding peo- Raiskin traveled to the new state of Israel, an increase in funding for the Ryan White ple, but to furthering her core values: main- where he lived in Jerusalem and continued his CARE Act to help those living with this horrible taining the dignity of the poor, and an unwav- religious studies at the Hebrew University. disease and all of their families too. Now, ering belief in the basic generosity of people. When heavy rains in December of 1951 dev- hopefully with all the funds we can care for a Ms. Velozo has said that in a perfect world, astated the encampments of immigrants from lot of people and try to keep them as well as she would step down because there is no North Africa and Romania, Rabbi Raiskin was possible...’’ longer a need for Northwest Harvest’s serv- sent to Afula, where he aided and eased the Mr. Speaker, we cannot jeopardize the well ices. But sadly, more than 30,000 people ask suffering by providing clothing that had been being of those living with HIV/AIDS and must for food at the main branch in Seattle each sent by Jewish organizations from the United ensure that funding for HIV/AIDS is retained. month, and Washington State ranks eighth States. I commend the gentlewoman from California, amongst the states in those who suffer from Rabbi Raiskin returned from Israel in 1952 Mrs. PELOSI, and the gentleman from Illinois, hunger. The need would be much larger, how- to work for the Union of American Hebrew Mr. SHIMKUS, whom I have joined in sending ever, had it not been for Ruth Velozo and her Congregations (UAHC) as the Director of the a letter to encourage President Bush to in- work. I hope you will join me, Mr. Speaker, in Chicago Federation of Temple Youth. He also crease funding for the National Institutes of thanking her for her energy, for her leadership, served as the Director of the Union’s Institute Health (NIH), the United States Agency for and for her commitment. which was the first camp owned by the UAHC International Development (USAID) and the f in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin (now know as the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS Olin-Sang-Ruby Camp). In 1953, just in time (HOPWA) programs. The letter also encour- A TRIBUTE TO RABBI GERALD for High Holy Days, Rabbi Raiskin joined the ages President Bush to support funding for RAISKIN Stephen Wise Free Synagogue where he disease prevention, the Ryan White CARE Act started a senior citizens group, increased at- to improve health care for people with AIDS, HON. TOM LANTOS tendance at the young adult groups, and and the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative. With rates OF CALIFORNIA strengthened the religious school. of infection on the up swing and so con- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The yearning for a congregation of his own was answered in 1956 when Rabbi Raiskin re- centrated, we cannot let these programs lag; Tuesday, June 5, 2001 the risk is too high. ceived an early morning telephone call asking It is paramount that we persevere in our ef- Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with him to consider becoming the spiritual leader forts against HIV/AIDS. As we begin our third great pleasure to honor Rabbi Gerald Raiskin, of the Peninsula Temple Sholom. On August decade battling this disease, I maintain that who is celebrating 50 years in the Rabbinate 1, 1956 Peninsula Temple Sholom’s first rabbi we focus our energies on those who are most and 45 years as Rabbi of Peninsula Temple arrived in San Mateo to begin 45 years of hu- vulnerable to infections: women, minorities, Sholom. manitarian work that has extended well be- and children. We must also redouble our ef- Rabbi Raiskin’s life of service began in New yond the walls of the temple. forts to educate our citizens, especially our York’s lower East Side where he attended Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Gerald Raiskin today is youth, on how to protect themselves from HIV Seward Park High School, Herezliah Hebrew recognized as one of the great leaders of San infection. In addition, we must not ignore our High School and Brooklyn College. His exem- Mateo County. He built the congregation of humanitarian duty to those suffering around plary dedication to duty was evident from the Peninsula Temple Sholom from very humble the world. The strides we have made in the early age of 18, when Gerald Raiskin an- beginnings to a congregation of over 700 fami- past two decades are numerous; and we swered his country’s call and enlisted in the lies, while constantly working to advance civil should celebrate our victories. However, we United States Army. He soon earned the rank rights at home and abroad. In March of 1965 cannot overlook the individuals who are un- of Private First Class and served with distinc- Rabbi Raiskin participated in the Civil Rights able to fight this disease alone. I ask my col- tion in the 80th Infantry Division of the United March to Montgomery with Dr. Martin Luther leagues, on this the 20th anniversary of the States Army. Gerald Raiskin was awarded the King, Jr. Rabbi Raiskin was arrested on sev- AIDS/HIV, to remember the past and stand in Combat Infantry Badge and two Battle Stars eral occasions for protesting in front of the So- solidarity to renew our nation’s commitment to for heroic combat duty, which included the viet Consulate in San Francisco on behalf of this global crisis. capture of Hitler’s Austrian birthplace and en- Jews in the Soviet Union. He risked his own gagement in hostilities at the outskirts of the f safety to bring humanitarian aid in the form of Buchenwald Concentration Camp, where the medical supplies and books on Judaica to re- TRIBUTE TO RUTH VELOZO young soldier observed the bodies of inmates fuseniks in Kiev, Leningrad and Moscow. Here who were killed in the nearby woods as he at home, Rabbi Raiskin has been integral to HON. JIM McDERMOTT marched towards the camp. When the war in interfaith efforts that have greatly benefitted OF WASHINGTON Europe ended, Rabbi Raiskin’s outstanding the 12th Congressional District which I am IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES academic record afforded him the opportunity privileged to serve. to attend the University of Geneva, where he Rabbi Raiskin has aptly been described as Tuesday, June 5, 2001 studied art and political science before return- ‘‘a role model, a true community leader, an in- Mr. MCDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, a remark- ing home to Brooklyn. credible teacher and an all around mensch.’’ able individual is planning to retire next month Gerald Raiskin’s path to the rabbinate He is a loving husband to Helen, a devoted fa- after 34 years of dedicated serve to the hun- began in earnest with his commitment to Re- ther to Sherman, Rhonda, Judith and Jordana gry and the homeless in my District. Ruth form Judaism and enrollment in the Jewish In- and a doting grandfather to Marni, Jamie, Velozo, executive director of Northwest Har- stitute of Religion’s Rabbinical School in 1948. Dana, Marcy, Jeremy and Eli. His spiritual
VerDate 11