[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 21910] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]A TRIBUTE TO THE AUSTRIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN NEW YORK AND THE RAV TOV INTERNATIONAL JEWISH RESCUE ORGANIZATION ______ HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS of new york in the house of representatives Monday, November 13, 2006 Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the Austrian Consulate in New York as they honor one of my district's outstanding human rights groups, The Rav Tov International Jewish Rescue Organization. Founded in 1973, at the behest of the former Grand Rabbi of Satmar, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of blessed memory, in 1973, Rav Tov was initially established to rescue the persecuted Jewish community living in the former Soviet Union. Rabbi Teitelbaum, himself a survivor of the Holocaust, saw his family perish at the hands of the Nazis. He envisioned Rav Tov as the protective shield for the global Jewish community living in tyrannical regimes. Rav Tov's heroic accomplishments of rescuing and resettling Soviet Jewry was only possible with the unflinching cooperation and support of the Austrian government, which hosted the refugees as they waited for their final resettlement. It is estimated that 367,000 Jews stayed in Vienna between 1968-1989 rebuilding their often shattered lives in free countries. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the focus of Rav Tov's and Austrian efforts have been to save other endangered Jewish communities that still exist around the world. As a result of the enduring bonds between Rav Tov and the Austrian government, the Austrian Federal President, Dr. Heinz Fischer, has decided to confer the prestigious Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold to Rabbi David Niederman, Rav Tov's Chief Executive for over three decades, which will be presented to him at a ceremony today at the Austrian Consulate in New York. This wonderful event is not only a testament to the resolve of the Austrian government in saving Jews in peril, but a celebration of the strong relationship between the United States and Austria. Mr. Speaker, as Rav Tov's representative in Congress, I have been privileged to work with them and the Austrian government on many pressing issues facing Jews in danger. I would like to particularly make mention of Austria's New York Consul General Brigitta Blaha and the Deputy Consul General Andreas Launer for their tireless work on Rav Tov's behalf. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me today in commending the Austrian government and Rav Tov for their phenomenal partnership in rescuing Jews around the world living in fear and danger. ____________________