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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Harav Hagaon Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz
4of Chicago, who passed away on December 9, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rabbi Schwartz was born to Avrohom and Pearl
6(Scher) Schwartz of the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Newark,
7New Jersey on January 24, 1925; at the age of 17, he attended
8the Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
9Theological Seminary (RIETS), in New York City, New York; he
10was later ordained as a rabbi and studied the first Kollel at
11RIETS; he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity by Yeshiva
12University in 1990; he was honored with the Harav Yosef Dov
13Halevi Soloveitchik, Joseph B. Soloveitchik Aluf Torah Award,
14at Yeshiva University's Chag Ha'semicha convocation in 2014;
15and
 
16    WHEREAS, Rabbi Schwartz enjoyed an illustrious career as a
17synagogue rabbi in several locations, including Providence,
18Rhode Island, Englishtown, New Jersey, Philadelphia,
19Pennsylvania, and Brooklyn, New York; he concomitantly served
20on various regional rabbinical bodies, kosher supervision
21bodies, and rabbinical courts; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Rabbi Schwartz was brought to Chicago in 1986 to

 

 

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1become the Av Beit Din, Chief Rabbinical Judge and Adjudicator,
2of the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc); during his tenure of
3over 30 years as Av Beit Din and eventually Rosh Beit Din, he
4oversaw the cRc's growth and development into an
5internationally recognized leader in Jewish law, global kosher
6supervision, and community leadership; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Rabbi Schwartz also served the community in a
8multitude of positions; he was appointed as Av Beth Din of the
9Rabbinical Council of America's Beth Din of America in 1991; he
10served as editor of the HaDarom Journal; he was a leading voice
11for organizations, including the Religious Zionists of Chicago
12and Hatzalah; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Rabbi Schwartz was a brilliant scholar of Jewish
14texts and was erudite in all areas of study; he made a lifelong
15commitment to child and adult education as well as to his own
16lifelong pursuit of study; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Rabbi Schwartz steadfastly defended the integrity
18of traditional Jewish law and traditions, while engendering
19peace and unity throughout the community; he was devoted to
20mentoring and supporting younger rabbinic colleagues, engaging
21every individual with warmth and humility, and helping the
22oppressed with sympathy, righteousness, and dignity; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Rabbi Schwartz was a proud American citizen, a
2supporter of local police departments and elected officials,
3and particularly supportive of military chaplains who served in
4the U.S. Armed Forces; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rabbi Schwartz was preceded in death by his first
6wife, Rebbetzin Risya (Shoshana) Poupko; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Rabbi Schwartz is survived by his wife, Rebbetzin
8Chana Sarah; his son, Avrohom Yeshaye (Sally) Schwartz; his
9daughter, Rivka Leah (the late Rabbi Yehoshua) Goldman; his
10son, Chaim Yehoshua Heschel (Shani) Schwartz; his
11grandchildren; and his great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
14Harav Hagaon Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz and extend our sincere
15condolences to his family, friends, the Chicago Rabbinical
16Council, and the Jewish community in the Chicago area and
17around the world who knew and revered him; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Rabbi Schwartz as an expression of
20our deepest sympathy.