The Jewish Press joins Klal Yisrael in mourning the passing last week at age 82 of Rabbi Ronald Greenwald, universally and affectionately known as Ronnie.
For decades a larger than life fixture on the Jewish communal scene, Rabbi Greenwald played key roles in behind the scenes efforts to resolve several high-profile issues of concern to the Jewish community, including negotiations that helped win the release of imprisoned Soviet Jewish activist Natan Sharansky.
He is also credited for his work on behalf of several lower profile Jewish prisoners in the Soviet Union and he was involved in a number of attempts to gain clemency for Jonathan Pollard.
A staunch Republican, Rabbi Greenwald directed Nelson Rockefeller’s Jewish outreach in his last run for governor of New York and served as President Richard Nixon’s liaison to the Jewish community.
Rabbi Greenwald was also a legendary figure on the Jewish educational scene. With his many governmental contacts, he was an important resource in efforts to secure public aid for Jewish education. Among his other numerous achievements he founded and ran the Monsey Academy for Girls and for many years operated the New York Federation-sponsored Camp Sternberg.
May his memory be a blessing.