Meier Schwarz
Encyclopedia
Meier Schwarz is an Israeli former plant physiologist.
Schwarz is the child of Jewish parents. His father, Ludwig Schwarz, merchant, born in Egenhausen/Ansbach, was a German army officer in the First World War, and was highly decorated. Ludwig Schwarz was board member of the Orthodox Jewish Adas Isroel congregation in Nuremberg. He was murdered by the Nazis in September 1937. According to official records, Schwarz’s mother Meta Schwarz, née Stern, who was born in Wiesenbach/Rothenburg, died in 1940 due to a "shortage of medicine." In fact the Nazis did not provide Jews with medicine. Schwarz’s only brother Joseph was head of the Hakhshara in Neuendorf/Fürstenwalde. He was murdered in 1943 in Auschwitz
.
Following the Night of Broken Glass in November 1938
, the family succeeded in organizing Meier Schwarz’s emigration. He managed to flee in a Kindertransport
to Jerusalem. At the age of 15, he helped establish the Hafetz Hayim kibbutz
and was an active member of the Jewish underground organization the Hagana. He also helped to organize and implement the illegal immigration of Jews to Palestine after the Second World War (Aliyah Bet). At the age of 22 he was the Hagana commander of one of the three Exodus
ships, the "Ocean Vigour
."
After the establishment of the state of Israel
, Schwarz worked as an educator and in agriculture. For 20 years he lived in Kibbutz
Hafetz Haim
, and spent another 14 years in Petah Tikva
before moving to Jerusalem in 1973. To this day he lives with his wife, a survivor of Auschwitz, in Jerusalem’s Old City. They have seven children, as well as many grand children and great grand children.
Among Schwarz’s academic achievements is the development of hydroculture
(soilless culture) which makes it possible to grow plants in desert areas using minimal irrigation. In this capacity he received a doctorate in plant physiology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
. He worked as a researcher and advisor in this field in Germany, Singapore, Chile and United States (where he worked for NASA
).
He was head of the Department for Soilless Cultures at the Jacob Blaustein Institute of Desert Research in Beer Sheva, an inspector for the ministry of education for biology lessons at high schools in Israel, and had a teaching position for 9 years at the Bar-Ilan University
. Furthermore, for 12 years, he was head of the teachers' seminary for science at the Jerusalem College for Women. Meier Schwarz was member of the board of trustees of the University of Haifa
.
Schwarz was President of the International Society for Soilless Cultures (ISOSC), and founder of the Natural Sciences Department of Teacher Education at the Jerusalem College and the Jerusalem Technology College
. He also served as President of The International Society of Religious Researchers.
Since 1988, as the Director of the Synagogue Memorial and Beit Ashkenaz organizations in Jerusalem, Schwarz has been leading a project whose aim is to publish memorial books for the former synagogues of Germany and Austria, and the Jewish communities who built them. He works with international partners and universities in this capacity. Eight memorial books have been published thus far.
Prof. em. Dr. Schwarz is a representative of CENTRA, the organization of Jewish-German immigrants to Israel who arrived in the 1930s. He represents the Survivors of German origin in the Union of Survivor Organization and Yad Vashem.
Schwarz is the child of Jewish parents. His father, Ludwig Schwarz, merchant, born in Egenhausen/Ansbach, was a German army officer in the First World War, and was highly decorated. Ludwig Schwarz was board member of the Orthodox Jewish Adas Isroel congregation in Nuremberg. He was murdered by the Nazis in September 1937. According to official records, Schwarz’s mother Meta Schwarz, née Stern, who was born in Wiesenbach/Rothenburg, died in 1940 due to a "shortage of medicine." In fact the Nazis did not provide Jews with medicine. Schwarz’s only brother Joseph was head of the Hakhshara in Neuendorf/Fürstenwalde. He was murdered in 1943 in Auschwitz
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
.
Following the Night of Broken Glass in November 1938
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, and also Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht, and Novemberpogrome, was a pogrom or series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on 9–10 November 1938.Jewish homes were ransacked, as were shops, towns and...
, the family succeeded in organizing Meier Schwarz’s emigration. He managed to flee in a Kindertransport
Kindertransport
Kindertransport is the name given to the rescue mission that took place nine months prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. The United Kingdom took in nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Nazi Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the Free City of Danzig...
to Jerusalem. At the age of 15, he helped establish the Hafetz Hayim kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
and was an active member of the Jewish underground organization the Hagana. He also helped to organize and implement the illegal immigration of Jews to Palestine after the Second World War (Aliyah Bet). At the age of 22 he was the Hagana commander of one of the three Exodus
Exodus (ship)
Exodus 1947 was a ship that carried Jewish emigrants, that left France on July 11, 1947, with the intent of taking its passengers to the British mandate for Palestine. Most of the emigrants were Holocaust survivor refugees, who had no legal immigration certificates to Palestine...
ships, the "Ocean Vigour
Ocean Vigour
HMT Ocean Vigour was a British freighter which had been converted into a caged prison ship used to deport illegal Jewish immigrants who had attempted to enter the Mandate Palestine back to Europe and to prison camps in Cyprus...
."
After the establishment of the state of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Schwarz worked as an educator and in agriculture. For 20 years he lived in Kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
Hafetz Haim
Hafetz Haim
Hafetz Haim is a religious kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Shephelah, it falls under the jurisdiction of Nahal Sorek Regional Council. In 2006, it had a population of 450....
, and spent another 14 years in Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
before moving to Jerusalem in 1973. To this day he lives with his wife, a survivor of Auschwitz, in Jerusalem’s Old City. They have seven children, as well as many grand children and great grand children.
Among Schwarz’s academic achievements is the development of hydroculture
Hydroculture
Hydroculture is a type of hydroponics in which plants are grown in a medium that allows the distribution of water and nutrients through capillary action.Clay aggregate such as LECA and Hydroton can be used to anchor plants when growing with hydroponics....
(soilless culture) which makes it possible to grow plants in desert areas using minimal irrigation. In this capacity he received a doctorate in plant physiology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
. He worked as a researcher and advisor in this field in Germany, Singapore, Chile and United States (where he worked for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
).
He was head of the Department for Soilless Cultures at the Jacob Blaustein Institute of Desert Research in Beer Sheva, an inspector for the ministry of education for biology lessons at high schools in Israel, and had a teaching position for 9 years at the Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University is a university in Ramat Gan of the Tel Aviv District, Israel.Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is now Israel's second-largest academic institution. It has nearly 26,800 students and 1,350 faculty members...
. Furthermore, for 12 years, he was head of the teachers' seminary for science at the Jerusalem College for Women. Meier Schwarz was member of the board of trustees of the University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
.
Schwarz was President of the International Society for Soilless Cultures (ISOSC), and founder of the Natural Sciences Department of Teacher Education at the Jerusalem College and the Jerusalem Technology College
Jerusalem College of Technology
The Jerusalem College of Technology , , is an Orthodox Jewish college. JCT's main campus are situated in the Givat Mordechai neighbourhood of Jerusalem. Other branches are located in the Givat Shaul neighbourhood of Jerusalem and Ramat Gan...
. He also served as President of The International Society of Religious Researchers.
Since 1988, as the Director of the Synagogue Memorial and Beit Ashkenaz organizations in Jerusalem, Schwarz has been leading a project whose aim is to publish memorial books for the former synagogues of Germany and Austria, and the Jewish communities who built them. He works with international partners and universities in this capacity. Eight memorial books have been published thus far.
Prof. em. Dr. Schwarz is a representative of CENTRA, the organization of Jewish-German immigrants to Israel who arrived in the 1930s. He represents the Survivors of German origin in the Union of Survivor Organization and Yad Vashem.
Awards
- BundesverdienstkreuzBundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
, 1. Klasse der Bundesrepublik Deutschland - In 2002, he received the Yakir YerushalayimYakir YerushalayimYakir Yerushalayim is an annual citizenship prize in Jerusalem, Israel, inaugurated in 1967.The prize is awarded annually by the municipality of the City of Jerusalem to one or more residents of the city who have contributed to the cultural and educational life of the city in some outstanding way....
(Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem) award from the city of Jerusalem.