The Rabbinical Alliance of America — Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American Orthodox Rabbis — joins Klal Yisroel in mourning the passing of our highly respected and esteemed friend, Rabbi Dr. Marvin Schick, ZT’L.
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America stated, “Rabbi Dr. Marvin Schick, ZT’L was a towering figure in the Jewish Community, and thanks to his efforts Orthodox Jewry is flourishing as successfully as it is today. However, that was not always the case. A native of Borough Park, he represented the best of the generation that rebuilt Orthodoxy after the destruction that was the Holocaust. Rabbi Schick was a true trailblazer and a role model for American Orthodox Jewry. Rabbi Schick served as a professor at Hunter College and at the New School for Social Research where he taught political-science and constitutional law. He was president of the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School for over 30 years, and was a founder and an educational consultant for the Avi Chai Foundation, and was a premier expert on Jewish education. Rabbi Schick also helped found the Council of Jewish Manpower Association.
“Rabbi Schick was among the founders of the National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs (COLPA) in 1965 and served as its founding president. Rabbi Schick was a shining proud face of a generation of proud Torah Observant and Orthodox Jews that helped reverse the decline in American Orthodoxy. Rabbi Schick by example lived a humble life and his only objective was to bring honor to heaven. Rabbi Schick demonstrated and personified that being true to your faith, religion and Torah observance is possible in America and he made a Kiddush Hashem in all the positions of responsibility and communal affairs that he assumed. The Torah world truly lost a dear friend and a role model. But thanks to Rabbi Schick’s valiant resilience and efforts, being proud and Orthodox is fashionable today.”
Rabbi Yaakov Klass, presidium chairman of the Rabbinical Alliance of America stated, “As a fellow Borough Parker, I and my family have had the honor to personally have known Rabbi Dr. Marvin Schick and his illustrious family for well over 70 years. As a child I have fond memories of Rabbi Schick’s mother, Mrs. Renee Schick, A’H founder of the famous Schick’s Bakery in Borough Park who was friends with my grandmother, Mrs. Tzirel Kirschner, A’H. The name Rabbi Dr. Marvin Schick has meant to members of my generation the definition of a principled advocate who fought for constitutional rights for the Jewish community.
“The Rabbinical Alliance of America has, in the course of the last 55 years since the founding of COLPA, signed numerous briefs to the United States Supreme Court. These legal battles championed by COLPA safeguarded the religious freedoms and liberty afforded to the Orthodox and faith-based communities. By protecting these important liberty interests, COLPA has helped Orthodoxy to grow. The Jewish community in the United states owes a large debt of gratitude and we at the Rabbinical Alliance of America mourn a loss of not just a friend, but of a pillar of Torah and Mitzvoth.”
May Rabbi Dr. Marvin Schick, ZT’L serve as a heavenly advocate, a Maylitz Yosher, for his family, the Jewish community and the entire world. May his memory be a blessing.