Remembering Harris Rosen, z'l

I was quite surprised and so sorry to hear of Harris’ death. Surprised, because I always pictured Harris to be invincible and that he would live forever. Sorry, because his loss leaves a great void not only in his family, but in the Orlando community at large, and certainly in the Orlando Jewish community. I expected his life to go on forever so that he could continue to do his unbelievable and role-model good deeds.

I first met Harris right after he got to Orlando, introduced by Hy Lake, with the direction to solicit Harris for a gift to the Jewish Federation. Harris had just started to build his empire and was not able to get involved in philanthropy, which I certainly understood. I watched him grow, I watched his properties grow, I watched his reputation grow, and I watched his philanthropy grow.

I would not say that we were good friends, but we certainly were acquaintances and bumped into each other more than a few times.

In 1974, the United States House of Representative passed an anti-boycott legislation bill, which of course, the Jewish community favored. Very few members of the House voted against the bill. Congressman Richard Kelly (Florida’s 5th District – Ocala, who by the way was succeeded by Bill McCullum) was one of them. The Jewish Federation organized a delegation to visit Congressman Kelly to convince him that he was wrong. The delegation was led by Hy Lake, who volunteered Harris Rosen to join us. I was there as the Federation’s executive director as was Rabbi Larry Halpern, chairman of the Federation’s Community Relations Committee. We met with Congressman Kelly at his office, in a dark room with a stuffed deer’s head on the wall, with both Hy and Congressman Kelly smoking their cigars.

Rabbi Halpern reminded me that Hy told Congressman Kelly he was only interested in support for Israel. I remember that one of Congressman Kelly’s responses was, “if it is between you people and us Americans, I’m for us Americans and the anti-boycott bill is not good for us Americans!” Of course, that did not go over well with the Jewish community. It was Hy who suggested to Kelly, since Kelly had never been to Israel, that he go to Israel and see firsthand what he was talking about.

It was that December holiday (1974) that Richard Kelly went to Israel. I am not sure who paid for it. I don’t want to know who paid for it, but I know it wasn’t the Jewish Federation because that was not something we were allowed to do. Congressman Kelly went to Israel, came back and got caught up in what has been called the ABSCAM scandal. This was an FBI sting going after Congressmen and others who were corrupt and taking bribes. If you look up ABSCAM in Wikipedia, you’ll see the whole story which is more than interesting. After the scandal broke Congressman Kelly was indicted (and later convicted).

The U.S. House of Representatives (I do not remember which committee) held hearings on ABSCAM, and since we were connected to Kelly’s trip to Israel, Harris Rosen and I were called to testify (I’m not sure why Hy didn’t get called to testify). We were not sure why we were called, but Harris said to me, “look, I didn’t pay for the trip and I know the Federation didn’t pay for the trip — you don’t turn down a subpoena from the United States House of Representatives.”

We left for Washington and testified on a Friday morning, July 15, 1975. I was not allowed to hear Harris’ testimony. Harris came out, not a happy camper to say the least. I am sure that he thought that this situation was going to adversely affect his ability to grow his empire.

When I was called, I was asked if Kelly had asked the Federation to pay for any of his trip. What the hearing was looking for was to prove that Congressman Kelly was willing to take money as a bribe and was corrupt. I didn’t help them with my answer when I said “the Jewish Federation did not sponsor the trip, and we had nothing to do with the financial aspect of him going to Israel.”

Well, I was pounced on. It seems that before my testimony, the Federation books were subpoenaed. Sarah, our bookkeeper, was told not to tell anyone under threat of felony. The hearing leader said to me, “you’re telling us that the Federation did not sponsor his trip in any way?” I remember my answer, I said “no sir.” Then came the hammer. Well, how come, on whatever date it was, the Federation spent $15 to send books to Congressman Kelly to support his trip? I was flabbergasted. I knew we had sent two books, “Myths & Facts” and another book on history, for him to read prior to his trip. In no way could I or anyone think that was sponsoring his trip. I think that the House members in the hearings agreed because there was no further action.

I flew back to Orlando that Friday and on Sunday, the JCC roasted me at an event planned months prior. My good friend and JCC director, Marvin Freedman, who had heard the story, roasted the hell out of me on that evening specifically about how I was going to be the first Federation director ever to spend time in a Federal lockup!

Harris and I have kept in contact throughout the years — every time recalling this adventure. It was his first entry into the world of politics and not happy one, but we both always had a good chuckle over this ‘interesting’ experience. No matter how ‘big’ he became in business, he always had time for an old friend.

I left Orlando in 1984, and Harris and I connected at least once a year, mostly when I would ask him a favor, once in a while when we had something in common to discuss, and certainly on his birthdays. I sat back in marvel watching what he accomplished, not only for the Orlando Jewish community, but for the Orlando community at large. He was certainly someone who believed in ‘Tikkun Olam,’ making the world a better place.

I am sure that his family will miss him, but I also know that the Orlando community at large and the Orlando Jewish community will miss his largess, his leadership, his role-setting, and the wonderful, wonderful, warm mensch (human being) he was.

Paul Jeser lives in Los Angeles, Calif.