BDE: Rav Elkonoh Schwartz, z”l

YS Gold 

We are saddened to inform you of the passing of Rav Elkonoh Schwartz, a longtime rov in Brooklyn, and a beloved and respected individual. He was 86 years of age. 

The niftar was born in Brownsville, where he attended Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin on Stone Avenue, and where he became a talmid muvhak of its Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok Hutner, zt”l, and received semichah from the yeshiva.  

For forty-five years, he served as the dedicated rov of Congregation Kol Israel in Prospect Heights, and served as the rabbi emeritus in later years. His dedication to his community was incredible, a constant throughout his tenure. When he moved to Boro Park in 1992, he continued to walk all the way to the shul on Shabbos mornings. Throughout the years, he delivered shiurim on many topics to the congregants of Kol Israel. 

Rabbi Schwartz was a brilliant man who wrote prolifically in numerous publications, in addition to his writings for his community. Nevertheless, he is remembered as an extremely humble man, always with a good sense of humor that would make people smile. 

He would spend his retirement years—in which he would become a beloved and respected mispalel in the Rudniker Beis Medrash—learning and davening, and bringing cheer to others. “Everyone knew that you would never hear a word of lashon harah or rechilus from Rabbi Schwartz,” recalled one mispalel. “He was truly respected by everyone who knew him, and he will be sorely missed.” 

Rabbi Schwartz was unwell in recent years, and was niftar Sunday morning. 

The Levaya took place Sunday afternoon at Wellwood Cemetery. 

Yehi zichro baruch.