Harvey Paretzky

Harvey Ian Paretzky of Silver Spring, Md., died Aug. 15, 2019. He was born in Queens and lived in Edison for 30 years before moving to Silver Spring one year ago.

Mr. Paretzky began his career at WEVD radio in Manhattan as a reporter and newscaster. He then went on to work for the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, where he helped plan the successful Freedom Sunday Demonstration, the historic gathering of 250,000 people in Washington on the eve of the summit meeting between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in December 1987. His career shifted to refugee resettlement, which he continued at Council of Jewish Federations in Manhattan and later at HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), where he worked for more than 25 years. He was instrumental in starting the first Matching Grant Program for refugees in the United States. He most recently held the position of senior director, grants manager for HIAS in both Silver Spring and New York. He also served as chairman of the Refugee Council USA Resettlement
Committee.

He graduated from Queens College and Columbia University.

He was an involved member of Congregation Ohr Torah, Edison, and the Edison/Highland Park community, and completed nearly two cycles of daf yomi, daily Talmud study.

Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

Predeceased by his father, Rabbi Mordechai, and a brother, Carl, he is survived by his wife of 34 years, Leah (Gibbs); his son, Rabbi Mordechai (Ruthie); two daughters, Adina (Rabbi Nate) Miller and Shoshana Paretzky; his mother, Cicely Paretzky; a brother, Raymond; and four grandchildren.

Services were held Aug. 18 at Congregation Ohr Torah, Edison. Memorial contributions may be made to “Harvey Paretzky Memorial Scholarship” at Congregation Ohr Torah, which will award merit-based scholarships to high school seniors planning to study in Israel.