EVP Rabbi Chaim Schwartz stepping down after 18 years of service at esteemed kashrus org.; Rabbi Chaim Tuvia Hanson will be Executive Kashrus Administrator
The Queens Jewish community is blessed with so many wonderful organizations and rabbanim. An organization that is really the backbone that brings us together and provides so many vital services is the Vaad Harabonim of Queens (VHQ). The community would like to thank Rabbi Chaim Schwartz for all his dedication and service as the Executive Vice President of this organization for the past 18 years. We were fortunate to have him, as he played a major role in raising the level of kashrus. We wish him much hatzlachah and blessing as he moves on to another position.
We are extremely fortunate to have Rabbi Chaim Tuvia Hanson, a world-class kashrus professional, who is bringing his skills, talents, and expertise to his role as the Executive Kashrus Administrator. Every organization that is committed to growth and improvement benefits from experts with a fresh perspective and from different backgrounds.
Rabbi Daniel Haramati, the new Kashrus Chairman, will continue the Vaad’s commitment to implementing the best standards of growth as a kashrus organization. The focus is to provide the community with a unified standard of kashrus, of the highest caliber, and to facilitate enhancement of the kosher standards of widely accessible kosher food across Queens, Westchester, and Long Island. Development of standards is a process. His role is to work with the community rabbanim and Rabbi Hanson to develop policies of kashrus standards tailored to all parts of our community and to oversee their implementation. Rabbi Hanson serves as the Executive Kashrus Administrator over all of the implementation. Rabbi Haramati shared that they have been reaching out to rabbanim from all parts of Queens to inquire how they can best service their kashrus needs as a community-based hashgachah.
Rabbi Haramati lived in Queens for many years and worked with the Vaad directly for the last seven years with the Beis Din with Rabbi Peretz Steinberg. Rabbi Haramati is now the Rav of the Young Israel of Merrick. He shared that his primary focus is the Beis Din, where he has benefited tremendously from the guidance and expertise of Rabbi Steinberg over many years. Rabbi Steinberg is an incredible role model. His everyday focus over the past 60 years is how he can help the Queens Jewish community. “I’ve been extremely privileged to be under his mentorship. It’s a unique opportunity to gain insight on how one person can help so many people!”
Rabbi Herschel Welcher, Rav of Congregation Ahavas Yisroel and President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, shared that the Vaad is the signal and foremost kashrus organization for the past 60 years in our community. And they are organizing for the coming generation to keep the high standards. Rabbi Hanson is very experienced, and they look forward to working with him. “We thank Rabbi Chaim Schwartz for his many years of service and his signal accomplishments. He built up the Vaad and expanded the scope and raised the standards. He served us very well and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Rabbi Welcher shared that two people have worked tirelessly to enhance the office so it’s in top shape and to help the organization to continue to serve the community with high standards. They are Rabbi Marty Katz, Founder and Executive Vice President of Just One Life and Vice President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and Rabbi Daniel Haramati, Kashrus Chairman. We look forward to continuing to serve the community with high standards of kashrus. He noted that the rabbanim are volunteers.
Rabbi Chaim Tuvia Hanson, Executive Kashrus Administrator of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, is bringing his expertise and experience to the Vaad. He worked for Kehilah Kashrus of Flatbush as an administrator and accomplished a lot. He maintained great relationships with all the owners and mashgichim. He was born and raised in Queens and he lives in Flatbush with his wife and children. His wife, Daphne Hanson, is a co-founder of Ohr Naava. His family is involved in working for the klal. He learned at Yeshiva Chaim Berlin in Brooklyn. When asked what he likes about his work for the Vaad, he shared the following: “I like maintaining strict adherence to kashrus polices and helping Yidden feel confident that they are eating at places that adhere to the highest standards of kashrus.” The community welcomes him and wishes him much hatzlachah in his new position.
Rabbi Peretz Steinberg, Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Queens Valley and Av Beis Din of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, shared the history of the Vaad. He related that the first Executive Director was Rabbi Yitzchak Sladowsky and the second was Rabbi Nachum Katz; the third is Rabbi Chaim Schwartz. The organization began around 60 years ago.
He told a story that took place around 50 or more years ago about a store on Queens Boulevard that was under the Vaad and selling hamburgers like hot cakes. Rabbi Ziskind, who was an expert in kashrus, told Rabbi Steinberg that he wanted him to check the place out as it didn’t seem like everything was okay.
Rabbi Steinberg looked around and didn’t see anything amiss. Then he noticed a turkey leg in the kitchen. He questioned the owner and found out it was from the store down the block, and that to keep up with demand the restaurant was buying chopped meat from that store. He immediately demanded the store close, and when it didn’t, he took away the Vaad Harabonim sign. The guy ran after him, but Rabbi Steinberg ran faster. Later, he found out that, legally, he couldn’t take away the sign. To solve that issue now, all the signs say on them property of the Vaad.
It was interesting to hear how he started the Chevrah Kadisha – first in his shul, the Young Israel of Queens Valley, in 1961 – and then that was a model for the Chevrah Kadisha under the Vaad of Harabonim of Queens. Rabbi Rokeach was the first director of the Chevrah Kadisha. Rabbi Steinberg shared that he was motivated to begin it when a member of the Young Israel of Queens Valley died, and they had to transport the body to Borough Park for a taharah and then back to Queens for the funeral, and then to be buried in Staten Island. He saw the need to have a community chevrah kadisha.
Rabbi Steinberg smiled when he spoke about the Vaad and how it has a great name in all areas. It’s the biggest Vaad around. He also thanked Rabbi Chaim Schwartz, who helped to build up the Vaad. He is remarkable and understands kashrus in all its details to the fullest.
It was so inspiring to hear about the history of this organization. Rabbi Steinberg is a role model of someone who sees the needs of the community and runs to fill them.
Rabbi Chaim Schwartz, outgoing Executive Director of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, shared that the best part of working for the Vaad was being able to serve the community and provide the best kashrus and working with so many wonderful people. “It was a privilege of a lifetime to work with the rabbanim!” Rabbi Schwarz said, “I humbly thank the community for the opportunity to serve them through this kodesh organization.”
He is currently National Director of Development of Penimi, an organization that provides chinuch for girls in the area of Torah and technology, and of tz’nius, and it’s for girls beginning in junior high school through post-seminary. It also provides a structured environment of chizuk for post-seminary girls entering the stage of shidduchim.
Rabbi Marty Katz, known to all of us in the community, in addition to his work for the Vaad as Vice President, has for over 30 years been the founding Executive Vice President of Just One Life, which has helped over 22,000 babies to be born in Israel. Just One Life (JOL), is a pioneer in empowering and enabling expectant women of all backgrounds who are in financial crisis to continue their pregnancy to fruition. In addition, he serves as a consultant to several nonprofit organizations.
Rabbi Katz related that “Rabbi Chaim Schwartz is a dear friend, a y’did, who enhanced and elevated the level of kashrus in our community. He added so many stores and set guidelines and high standards. We wish him much hatzlachah in his new position. There is no doubt with his passion, drive, and commitment to klal Yisrael that he will definitely bring a lot to help the Jewish community.”
Rabbi Katz’s role is the everyday functioning and work of the Vaad. He works closely with Rabbi Haramati, and they are excited to work with someone of Rabbi Hanson’s stature. The community thanks Rabbi Schwartz for all his dedicated years of service and welcomes Rabbi Hanson with great enthusiasm.
This writer felt it was an honor and privilege to interview so many chashuve rabbanim and to get an inside picture of their dedication and love for klal Yisrael. Hashem should continue to bless the work of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens and our community.
By Susie Garber
