Neveh Shalom bids farewell to Barb Schwartz
By Anne Koppel Conway
article created on:
Although Barb Schwartz is weighing her options, she has not decided what she will do after 15 years as director of Congregation Neveh Shalom's religious school.
About 125 people came to pay tribute to Schwartz at the May 21 farewell party for her at Neveh Shalom. Many current and former students and teachers spoke about her contribution to the synagogue; others mailed notes of thanks from around the world.
Current PJA sixth-grader Laura Eckstein said, "She is a great administrator! If you want to do something special, she thinks about it and makes it happen."
"I have one vivid memory," said Anne Goldfarb. "When we first joined the synagogue and our son was starting religious school, we met with Barb—with great trepidation.
"We wanted our son to have a bar mitzvah but were worried we had waited too long to get started. After doing an assessment, Barb told us our son was very bright" and a having a bar mitzvah would not be a problem.
Jeanne Goldberg, Randy Katz, and Roberta Ruimy said their children bonded with each other and connected with the synagogue through the Wednesday-night school, the synagogue's high school program.
Goldberg said her daughter Roka, who mailed in a tribute note, and Katz's son David were "befriended and mentored" by Schwartz. Both were given the opportunity to teach in the religious school. Roka is currently teaching in Thailand; David teaches English in China.
An e-mailed note to Schwartz came in from Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel, from former religious school teacher Sarah (Bienn) Sacks.
"I have such good memories of working with you in the Wednesday night religious school. You took me on as a teacher . . . and encouraged me with proper guidance on how to do the job well. Even though I liked to do things a little bit differently you made room for me to teach the way I found to be meaningful. You are builder and bring bracho to the world through your ayin tov, your good eye. I know you'll go on to build in many great other ways.
Rabbi Daniel Isaak said, "You are a consummate Jewish educational professional and long ago gained my full respect and gratitude for all you have contributed to our community and the lives of our impressionable young people?We will work hard to maintain the high standards you have set for our students and for their parents."
Deb Freedberg, who had been hired by Schwartz to run the Sunday school program asked, "You want a comment from me without crying? Barb is a role model, a mentor, a master teacher, a friend. She values each student as an individual."