Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Valley Beth Shalom rabbi a treasure for humanity
By Holly J. Andres, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 10/17/2008 11:37:30 PM PDT
ENCINO – He’s at an age when he could add "emeritus" after his title,
but "retired" isn’t part of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis’ vocabulary.
The 83-year-old rabbi from Valley Beth Shalom isn’t lounging around
his Encino home watching TV. Teaching, writing and speaking out about
injustices and unkindness in the world continues to be a never-ending,
full-time job.
"He is a magnificent human being. He’s a great Torah scholar and a man
of great moral consciousness. He is an inspiration to me," said Marcy
Rainey, a member of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino who has known
Schulweis for 14 years.
Schulweis will receive the John Allen Buggs Humanitarian Award for his
interfaith leadership from the Los Angeles County Commission on Human
Relations on Thursday at a luncheon in Monterey Park.
Buggs was a civil-rights leader and was part of the commission from
1954 to 1967.
"I am particularly moved about the award, even though I’m a strong
believer of the separation of church and state," Schulweis said. "I’m
not a guy who is a political individual. I was totally dumbfounded. I
accepted with great delight."
Schulweis founded a group called Jewish World Watch to monitor
human-rights violations around the world. Among his efforts on that
front last year was to offer solidarity with the Armenian community.
"He came here to the diocese with Jewish World Watch with a proposal
to recognize the Armenian Genocide. He comprehended that the truth is
the truth and that it’s not political," said Archbishop Hovan
Derderian from the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North
America. "His role in the community is very important. He has a
genuine respect for all humanity and he has the ability to bring
communities closer."
The 1,700 families at the conservative Jewish congregation treasure
Schulweis, and there was no surprise that their beloved rabbi is among
Newsweek magazine’s list of the "Top 50 Inspirational Rabbis in
America" – and in the top 20 for two years in a row.
"He is really a remarkable man with an intellect above and beyond most
of us. He has a deep goodness," said Rabbi Bradley Artson, dean of the
Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and vice president of the American
Jewish University in Los Angeles.
Janice Kamenir-Reznik, president of Jewish World Watch, has known
Schulweis for 25 years as a member of Valley Beth Shalom. She admires
the way he brings together theology, philosophy and Torah to call
people to humanitarian action.
"He was revolutionary in turning around how we see the Holocaust," she
said. "He said, `Where was the godliness? Find those godly people who
saved Jews."’
Schulweis also has contributed to the anthology of Jewish learning
through authoring books on Jewish philosophy, life-cycle events,
poetry and daily meditations.
His latest book, "Conscience: The Duty to Obey and the Duty to
Disobey," published in September, considers the "hidden inner compass"
that leads people to ethical and moral decisions.
"What would I like people to remember about me? That I helped break
down the insularity of faith and that I urged people to have the
wisdom to look through the eyes of the other."
holly.andres@dailynews.com 818-713-3708
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress