By Elizabeth Kratz | December 10, 2020
No one could have predicted, least of all Rabbi Kenny Schiowitz himself, that he would be compelled to lead a 20-plus-rabbi-strong rabbinic council and kashrut agency during a worldwide pandemic, or that his group would have as much impact as it has had. While the Ramaz gemara teacher and rav of Teaneck’s Congregation Shaarei Tefillah spent two years as president of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County, he focused initially on leading the RCBC through a reorganization of its kashrut arm, focusing on creating a meaningful partnership with other local certifying agencies. However, eight months ago, just following Purim, as the threat of COVID-19 began to touch tri-state area Jewish communities, the decision of the RCBC to close all communal shuls before the government or any other entity moved to make recommendations, would later be heralded across the country as prescient, wise and life-saving.