Menny Schwab Delivers Invocation at NYS Senate With Father and Son by His Side

By M. C. Millman

Wesley Hills resident Menny Schwab, Executive Vice President of Yeshiva Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch and founder and director of Camp Fun, delivered an invocation upon the invitation of New York State Senator Bill Weber before the senate session on Tuesday, January 30.

"I want to thank Morty Becker for being a great silent giant, a shtadlun, to help so many as a true friend, a camper who was in Camp Fun over 20 years ago, and who actually introduced me to Senator Weber at a Tomche Shabbos dinner," Menny shares with Rockland Daily, "and through that friendship, we have been able to accomplish so much together."

When asked what his goal was in addressing the senate, Menny shared that what he wanted was to make a kiddush Hashem b'rabim and to be m'chabed his father, HaRav Yosef Schwab. 

"Yesterday was a big kiddush Hashem," HaRav Yosef Schwab, Menny's father, shares exclusively with Rockland Daily regarding Menny's success in doing just that. "I can't tell you how great it made me feel to be there. Thank goodness Menny came out just like he was supposed to, a tzadik and an eish emes." 

"We have a benevolent government, and one should daven for its success," Menny further shares, "which is part of the mesora we have. In Washington Heights, at Khal Adas Yeshurun, we say this tefillah every Shabbos going back to when my grandfather was the Rav and well before him. He always said that we live in a mulchus shel chesed and have to be makir tov that fact. Orchim are always respectful of their hosts, he taught us. He saw what happened in Germany, and he was so appreciative of being able to live in the United States, which is the point I made while standing before the senate with three generations saved from the ashes of the Holocaust by our host country. It's this strong sentiment that makes me so appreciative of Senator Weber. He's there for us as a community and represents the United States at its best." 

Menny began his invocation by pointing out that his father, who was present and who had arrived nearly 90 years ago, was given the chance for a new life as a one-year-old German immigrant. 

"I am thankful to those who serve here and gave the opportunity of life to so many," Menny expressed during his invocation before going on to share a story about his grandfather, who was the rabbi of German Jewry of Washington Heights, who went to the Pennsylvania Station at 12:15 p.m. on a Wednesday in March in 1948 to see President Truman and who he said was given the power by G-d to end World War Two and the Holocaust. He made the bracha at that time that Menny then went on to say himself, standing seventy-five years later, with his father and his two sons at his side, blessing those in attendance and the American government with the bracha of shenason m'chovdoh l'basar v'dom. 

"Hosting Menny Schwab in the New York State Senate chamber for the invocation was an honor," says Senator Weber. "It was so special that his father and sons could be there and share this moment. I am gratified we made this happen for three generations of the Schwab family, who are dedicated Rockland County educators and students."