Warwick business owner instrumental in both Menorah lighting and Santa visits

Warwick — The friendliness and community spirit found in Warwick is often exemplified in the generosity of its citizens. Warwick businessman Moshe Schwartzberg, owner of Forever Jewelers, is a good example. For the past 17 years, Schwartzberg has served the Jewish community and non-Jewish guests by officiating at the first night of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. This Tuesday, Dec. 20, he will again light the first candle at the Menorah lighting-ceremony in Lewis Park, across from the Warwick Village Hall, at 4:30 p.m. Everyone, regardless of his or her faith, is invited to attend. And children will appreciate the way the miracle of how a small amount of lamp oil could last eight days is explained in terms they can understand. Schwartzberg and his wife, Doris, and their daughters Sarah and Amy have continued to improve the celebration each year by adding Hanukkah songs, games and gifts and by serving traditional potato latkes. And, by the way, contractor John Tinnirello, who is not Jewish, built the beautiful wooden Menorah now on display in Lewis Park. Santa will also be visiting the Village of Warwick this Saturday, Dec. 17. And parents and grandparents are invited to bring their cameras to Railroad Green where their children and grandchildren can pose with Santa in his sleigh from noon to 3 p.m. Santa’s sleigh in the Village Park also inspires an interesting historical footnote. In 1997 Doris Schwartzberg, whose husband Moshe was one of the businessmen instrumental in creating a holiday season display at Railroad Green at that time, designed an all-new sleigh for Santa. Moshe Schwartzberg not only purchased the materials but also hand built the sleigh that still sits in the Village Park. Many years ago when, thanks in part to Schwartzberg’s leadership as president of the Merchant Guild, Railroad Green featured a Christmas Tree, the Menorah, Santa’s sleigh and Santa’s workshop, he was asked, “What’s there for the atheists?” Schwartzberg pointed to a section of lawn and answered: “The empty space.”