As he prepares to step down, Rockville Centre rabbi reminisces

From his sunny, paneled office, its walls covered with photos and memorabilia accumulated during his 37 years as rabbi of Temple B’nai Sholom, Dr. Barry Dov Schwartz looked back at his long career as he prepares to leave the temple.

“It’s been worthwhile, enjoyable, productive and busy,” Schwartz said, “but not always easy, as any leader or clergyman would affirm. You need to coordinate the joys with the sorrows of the congregation.”

One of his greatest joys, Schwartz said, is to marry children he had the honor to name as babies. He’s set to perform such a wedding this August, and said he’s very much looking forward to it. But even in sorrow, Schwartz said, there is a bright side. “I get inspiration from the mourners I’ve comforted. It’s a wonderful feeling to help and counsel people.”

Schwartz, now 69, said that ever since the age of six, he wanted to be a rabbi. He would go into a room in his Boston area home as a child and emulate his own Conservative rabbi, Joseph Shubow. Schwartz has managed to combine his interest in rabbinical studies with a love of police work (he majored in criminology) and will continue in his role as a chaplain for police in the Rockville Centre, Nassau County and Detectives' Association’s forces. As he and Sonia, his wife of 40 years (an American History teacher at a Queens yeshiva) prepare to relocate close to Rockville Centre, Schwartz says he also plans to continue as chaplain and trustee of Mercy Medical Center and maintain his professional ties with Molloy College and Adelphi University.

With plans for his congregation to merge with Conservative egalitarian Temple Beth David of Lynbrook well under way, Rabbi Howard Diamond is set to succeed Schwartz. Trustees of the two temples signed a letter of intent to merge in May, and the process is proceeding through legal channels, with congregational votes coming soon. The two temples have pledged to celebrate the High Holy Days together in the Hempstead Avenue building come fall. And on Tuesday night, at a gala honoring Rabbi Schwartz, B’nai Sholom launched a major capital fundraising campaign to rename its sanctuary the “Rabbi Dr. Barry Dov Schwartz Sanctuary” toward the latter part of 2010. Reflecting on his imminent departure, Schwartz said he’ll miss the many relationships he’s developed over the years.

Calling Rockville Centre a very special community that is marked by both diversity and unanimity, Schwartz said that in 37 years he’s never had one problem. He mentioned the wonderful mayors and trustees he’s worked with. And as past president of the Rockville Centre Interfaith Council, Schwartz said he’s seen participation ebb and flow — the group now meets once a month under the leadership of Rev. Jeffrey P. Laustsen — and he is leaving it with what he described as very mixed feelings.

Among the highlights of his career were his many travels around the world that began during his service as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam era and continued in subsequent journeys that included numerous visits to Israel, leading congregants.

Asked to evaluate his many achievements, Schwartz said he aspired to live up to all aspects of a rabbi’s role.

“I’ve tried to be a good rabbi. I succeeded in many areas and could have done better in others,” he said. “It’s been said that some rabbis are good at preaching, others at pastoral counseling and some at academic scholarship. People have said that I’m a combination of all of these.”

During his long tenure, Schwartz has written extensively and prepared a sermon each week, varying them with fresh topical comments that he connects to a biblical teaching. Said Sonia, who reads everything her husband writes, “It’s been a joy and a pleasure. I’ve heard him speak on so many occasions and he never ceases to surprise me with something new. It’s amazing how much I learn from him every time.

“He’s always involved and has so many outside activities and interests,” she added. “He leaves an impact on people in so many different ways. He’s one of the best spokesmen for Judaism that anybody could want. He makes our religion a beautiful thing.”

Katherine Kollitides contributed to this story.