The publication is reproduced in full below:
REMEMBERING DAVID KAHAN
______
HON. HALEY M. STEVENS
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Friday, February 4, 2022
Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the inspirational life of Mr. David Kahan, a national leader from Michigan's 11th District who passed away on January 8th, 2022. Among the many contributions Mr. Kahan made to our community, he will be remembered to many as the beloved patriarch of the Kahan family, a savvy business owner, and an advocate for the Jewish community.
Mr. David Kahan has been described by his family as ``one-of-a-
kind,'' and his inspirational personal story of perseverance demonstrates how unique he was: At just sixteen years old, David Kahan and his family were captured from their home in a remote town in Transylvania and imprisoned at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. Despite experiencing severe malnutrition, Typhus, and unimaginable abuse, David Kahan survived the horrific conditions of Auschwitz and moved to the United States to start anew.
Like many Holocaust survivors, Mr. Kahan initially found his time at Auschwitz too disturbing to share. His children recall the moment in the 1970's when a professor from Northwestern University in Chicago incorrectly challenged the scale and cruelty of the Holocaust, motivating their father to speak out about his experience as a survivor. For the remainder of his life, Mr. Kahan worked to ensure that this important history was not forgotten and that the Jewish community was represented. He spoke at various high schools, civic centers, and events to advocate for Holocaust education and the Jewish community for almost 50 years.
Mr. Kahan was proud of his country and made it his mission to ensure that the United States could continue to serve as a ``land of opportunity'' for those like him. He worked selling shoes and then in a tool and die shop before establishing himself in real estate in 1967. Over the course of his career, Mr. Kahan advanced to work alongside several of Southeast Michigan's most prominent business leaders. He said that his personal success is a true example of how the U.S. presents opportunities unlike any other place in the world, and he dedicated his life to expanding these opportunities for others.
Mr. David Kahan will be fondly remembered and genuinely missed by all who knew him and were touched by his remarkable life. His legacy continues through his wife, Terry, and their children, Douglas, Jeffrey, and Michael Kahan. Madam Speaker, the scope of Mr. David Kahan's impact is immeasurable, and Michigan's 11th Congressional District is fortunate to have been home to such an inspirational leader. Please join me in remembering the life of Mr. David Kahan and his many contributions.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 23
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