A course titled Mathematics and the Environment, launched in 1975 at the College of Staten Island, marked a significant departure from standard academic curricula for Richard H. Schwartz. While he maintained a career as a professor of mathematics, his professional output shifted toward the intersection of religious ethics, dietary habits, and global sustainability throughout the late twentieth century.
Academic and Personal Background
Born in 1934 in Arverne, New York, to parents Joseph and Rose, Schwartz spent his early life as a self-described meat and potatoes person. He married Loretta Susskind on February 14, 1960, at the Utopia Jewish Center in Queens. His professional life centered on the City University of New York and the College of Staten Island, where he attained the status of professor emeritus of mathematics. He later adopted a vegetarian lifestyle in 1977, followed by a transition to veganism in 2000.
Theology and Dietary Advocacy
Schwartz, an observant Modern Orthodox Jew and member of the Young Israel Congregation of Staten Island, utilized his writings to bridge the gap between religious mandates and environmental preservation. His seminal work, Judaism and Vegetarianism, first published in 1982, evaluates Talmudic and rabbinical teachings to argue that plant-based diets align with the highest form of kosher standards. He posits that current agricultural practices conflict with core Jewish requirements regarding health, animal welfare, and the protection of natural resources.
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His efforts extend to organizational leadership and interfaith outreach. As president emeritus of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America and co-founder of the Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians, he has maintained a consistent presence in animal rights advocacy. His influence reached the Christian community, where his work supported the development of campaigns such as Honoring God's Creation. In 2005, the North American Vegetarian Society inducted him into its Hall of Fame at the University of Pittsburgh.
Media and Public Outreach
Schwartz participated in the 2007 documentary A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Heal the World, directed by Lionel Friedberg, which expanded the reach of his arguments. Through his involvement with the Green Zionist Alliance at the 2010 World Zionist Congress and numerous publications, including Vegan Revolution and Mathematics and Global Survival, he has sought to address issues of pollution, hunger, and waste through a lens of religious and mathematical analysis.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Arverne, New York
- Marriage: Loretta Susskind, 14 February 1960
- Professional Role: Professor emeritus of mathematics, College of Staten Island
- Vegetarian transition: 1977
- Vegan transition: 2000
- Vegetarian Hall of Fame induction: 2005
- Notable work: Judaism and Vegetarianism (1982)
- Religious affiliation: Modern Orthodox Judaism
Questions readers ask
What subjects does Richard H. Schwartz teach?
He is a mathematician who taught Mathematics and the Environment at the College of Staten Island.
Is Richard H. Schwartz a vegan?
Yes, he transitioned to vegetarianism in 1977 and became vegan in 2000.
What is his most prominent book?
His best-known work is Judaism and Vegetarianism, which examines biblical and rabbinical perspectives on diet and animal welfare.
Achievements
- Held posts at City University of New York and College of Staten Island
