Ronald Greenwald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ronald Greenwald
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| Born | January 8, 1934 New York City, New York
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| Died | January 20, 2016 (aged 82) Florida, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Negotiator and educator |
Ronald Greenwald (January 8, 1934 – January 20, 2016) was an American Orthodox Jewish rabbi. He was also a successful businessman and an educator.
Born in New York City, Rabbi Greenwald became known for his work in international diplomacy. He helped with important negotiations, like trading spies and helping to free people held hostage in other countries. He also worked as a special helper for President Richard Nixon, connecting him with the Jewish community. Beyond his international work, he was a community leader, led various groups, ran a high school, and directed a summer camp. He passed away peacefully in his sleep while on vacation in Florida.
Contents
Early Life and Political Work
Ronald Greenwald grew up in New York City. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Europe. After high school, he studied at Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland. When he got married, he settled in Boro Park, Brooklyn. In his early career, he taught Jewish and general studies in schools in Brooklyn.
Rabbi Greenwald started getting involved in politics in 1962, when he was 28. He worked to support Jewish day schools in the United States. He helped Nelson Rockefeller win many Jewish votes in his campaign to become governor. Because of this success, Rockefeller's team suggested Greenwald to Richard Nixon for his 1972 presidential re-election campaign. Greenwald helped Nixon also gain a lot of support from Jewish voters.
During Nixon's time as president, Rabbi Greenwald was a link between the government and the Jewish community. For example, he helped get a $1 million grant to open a legal aid office in Brooklyn to help people in need.
During the Watergate time, Rabbi Greenwald tried to convince some members of Congress that removing the President would make the United States weaker. He felt this would hurt Israel, which needed a strong U.S. after the Yom Kippur War. Even though his efforts did not stop President Nixon from resigning, he received a thank-you letter from the President.
Helping People Around the World
Rabbi Greenwald was involved in many efforts to help free prisoners and hostages from different parts of the world.
Natan Sharansky
One of his most famous cases was helping to free Natan Sharansky. Sharansky was a Soviet Refusenik (someone denied permission to leave the Soviet Union) and a critic of the government. Rabbi Greenwald worked closely with U.S. Representative Benjamin Gilman and a lawyer from East Germany to get Sharansky released from a Soviet prison in the late 1970s. He traveled across the "Iron Curtain" (the border between Western and Eastern Europe during the Cold War) to East Germany more than 25 times for this effort. News reports called Rabbi Greenwald the "man behind the talks" that freed Sharansky.
Miron Markus
In 1978, Rabbi Greenwald helped rescue Miron Markus, a 24-year-old Israeli citizen. Markus was captured in Mozambique. Rabbi Greenwald, along with Congressman Gilman, helped arrange a complicated exchange involving four countries: Mozambique, Israel, the U.S., and East Germany.
Raul Granados
In November 1979, Raul Granados was kidnapped in Guatemala City. Rabbi Greenwald, again working with Representative Gilman, helped arrange his release in exchange for a payment.
Vladimir Raiz
Vladimir Raiz, a scientist from the former Soviet Union, had been trying to leave his country for 18 years. Rabbi Greenwald secretly met with Raiz in Lithuania in 1989. After talks with Soviet officials, Raiz and his family were allowed to leave in 1990.
Shabattai Kalmanovich
Greenwald was involved in helping Shabattai Kalmanovich move from the USSR to Israel.
Lori Berenson
In 1994, Lori Berenson, a political activist from New York, was arrested in Peru. She was accused of being part of a rebel group. Because of questions about her trial, Amnesty International called her a "political prisoner."
With support from President Bill Clinton, Rabbi Greenwald led a group of American negotiators to Peru in 2000. They asked the Peruvian government to free Berenson or give her a new trial in a regular court. Their efforts worked, and she received a new trial. She was still found guilty but received a shorter sentence.
Jonathan Pollard
Greenwald worked hard to help Jonathan Pollard, who was in prison in the U.S. He tried to convince the President of the United States to pardon Pollard or reduce his sentence. One idea was a three-way exchange involving Israel, the U.S., and Russia. Unfortunately, this plan did not work out, and Pollard remained in prison until 2015.
Alfred Zehe
In 1983, Dr. Alfred Zehe, a scientist from East Germany, was arrested in the U.S. for sharing secret documents. Rabbi Greenwald visited Zehe in prison several times. He helped pass messages between Zehe and his family, encouraging him to cooperate so he could be released. Zehe eventually pleaded guilty and was released in 1985 as part of an exchange of agents.
Public Speaking and Media
Rabbi Greenwald was a popular speaker at many events. He spoke at the Agudath Israel of America Convention and the Aish Partners Conference.
News outlets often covered Rabbi Greenwald's work. In 1988, the Washington Post reported on his efforts to help Jonathan Pollard. In 1986, ABC World News Tonight praised Greenwald for his role in the talks to free Sharansky.
His important connections and international adventures sometimes led to rumors. However, these rumors were not based on facts. In 1990, a newspaper called him a "master of international negotiation" for his role in freeing Sharansky, Markus, and others. USA Today also said his dealings with international negotiators were like something from a "spy novel."
Lithuanian Torah Scrolls
In September 1997, Rabbi Greenwald visited Lithuania. During this trip, he successfully talked with the Lithuanian government to allow the burial of several damaged Torah scrolls. These scrolls were among hundreds that had been disrespected during World War II.
With the government's help, Greenwald and others found over 300 scrolls. They were able to save most of them. The scrolls that could not be saved were buried in a special ceremony attended by Jewish people from around the world and Lithuanian officials.
The day before the ceremony, Rabbi Greenwald spoke to the Lithuanian Parliament. During the same visit, he also convinced the Prime Minister to stop a plan to build a shopping mall on a Jewish cemetery in Vilnius. Greenwald had previously helped Lithuania with its goal to join NATO, so his words had a strong impact.
Honors and Other Activities
Yitti Leibel Help Line Tribute
In 2009, The Yitti Liebel Help Line honored Rabbi Greenwald. They called him a "champion of chessed" (a Hebrew word meaning kindness or good deeds) and a "living, one man Chessed organization." The organization said that "thousands of people owe more than they can ever repay to one hero- Ronnie!"
Mishpacha Magazine Feature
Mishpacha Magazine, a Jewish weekly magazine, featured Greenwald on its cover in May 2009. The magazine called him a "legend among lifesavers" and included a long article about his work helping people in need around the world for many years.
Schools and Camps
When he wasn't involved in international diplomacy, Greenwald ran Camp Sternberg, a summer camp in the Catskill Mountains, which he started in 1964. He also founded and ran Monsey Academy for Girls, a private high school in New York.
Charitable Work
Greenwald was the chairman of the board for the Women's League in Rockland County, which helps create homes for adults. He also served on the board of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services in Borough Park, Brooklyn. He was also on the Board of Governors of the Orthodox Union.
Rabbi Greenwald and the Prince of Italy
Greenwald worked with Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Italy. In 2007, they met to discuss various projects. During their meeting, Prince Filiberto expressed his sadness for his great-grandfather Victor Emmanuel III's limited cooperation with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis during World War II. He also spoke positively about the future of Italian-Jewish relations.
Other Roles
Rabbi Greenwald held several other important positions, including:
- Executive Director of Yeshiva Toras Emes in Brooklyn, New York
- Director of the Jewish election campaign for former New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller
- Chaplain for the New York State Police
- Director of the Jewish presidential campaign for Richard Nixon
Images for kids
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Ronald Greenwald
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Rabbi Greenwald talking to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
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Rabbi Greenwald in Peru
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Ronald Greenwald meeting with the President of Lithuania, Algirdas Brazouskas
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Rabbi Greenwald and others participating in the "funeral" of destroyed Torah scrolls in Lithuania
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Rabbi Greenwald with Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoia
