Israel's Yitzhak Rabin Center to Honor CWA President Bahr

CWA President Morton Bahr, who will retire as CWA president at the union's convention in August, will be honored Sept. 22 in Washington, D.C., at a dinner sponsored by the Yitzhak Rabin Center and chaired by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.

The event will benefit the Morton Bahr Educational Wing of the Rabin Center in Tel Aviv, a tribute to Bahr's long commitment to working families, education and the State of Israel, said Dalia Rabin, daughter of the slain prime minister and chair of the Yitzhak Rabin Center. The dedication and official opening of the educational wing is slated for November 2005.

"Morty has led and participated in dozens of missions to Israel, and as a union leader, shares many of the ideals to which my father dedicated his public service," she said. The announcement was made during the AFL-CIO Executive Council's March meeting.

The Morton Bahr Educational Wing will focus on teaching democracy and leadership skills, with programs especially designed for young children. The Rabin Center offers programs not only for Israelis but also for foreign visitors and international conferences, Dalia Rabin said, adding, "we hope to make it the site for the first International Labor Conference in Israel."

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin, and events throughout the year are commemorating his courage and his determination to gain peace. The Yitzhak Rabin Center is dedicated to preserving his legacy through international leadership development, public dialogue and tolerance, all ideals that Rabin championed.

More information about the event will be posted at ga.cwa-union.org.