Rabbi
Myer S. Kripke
Personal
Born
Myer Samuel Kripke

(1914-01-21)January 21, 1914
Toledo, Ohio, US
DiedApril 11, 2014(2014-04-11) (aged 100)
Omaha, Nebraska, US
ReligionJudaism
SpouseDorothy K. Kripke
ChildrenSaul A. Kripke
Madeline F. Kripke
Netta Stern
Parent(s)J. Michael Kripke
Nettie Kripke
DenominationConservative Judaism
Alma materNew York University
Columbia University
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
OccupationRabbi
Scholar
Philanthropist
SynagogueBeth El Synagogue
Omaha, Nebraska
YeshivaJewish Theological Seminary of America
Began1937
Ended1976
BuriedBeth El Cemetery

Myer Samuel Kripke (January 21, 1914 – April 11, 2014) was an American rabbi, scholar, and philanthropist. He was based in Omaha, Nebraska.[1]

Early life

Kripke was born on January 21, 1914[1] in Toledo, Ohio, to parents Jacob "J. Michael" Kripke and Nettie Kripke (née Goldman).[2][3] Kripke was one of seven children: Harold, Sidney, Albert, Homer, Shirley, and Joseph.[2] His father bought and sold containers (bottles, barrels). Kripke's parents were from Poland. In the 1860s, his family settled in Cleveland, Ohio.[4]

Kripke and his wife, Dorothy, had three children: American philosopher and logician Saul A. Kripke, Madeline Kripke, a bookseller, editor and authority on dictionaries and slang,[5][6][7] and Netta Stern, who was a social worker and psychotherapist.[8]

Kripke died at the age of 100 in Omaha, Nebraska.[1][9][10] He was buried at Beth El Cemetery.[1]

Career

In 1930 Kripke moved to New York to study at New York University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He graduated from New York University Phi Beta Kappa and earned a master's degree in philosophy from Columbia University. He received his master's, doctoral, and rabbinical degrees from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City. He was senior class president at the seminary in 1937.[1]

Kripke was a rabbi at synagogues in Racine, Wisconsin, Patchogue, New York on Long Island, and New London, Connecticut.[1]

In 1946, Kripke became the Rabbi at the Conservative Jewish Beth El synagogue in Omaha, Nebraska.[11] He held this position from 1946 to 1975. In 1975, he was named rabbi emeritus at Beth El.[1] From 1976–90, Kripke was an adjunct Associate Professor of Theology at Creighton University, regularly teaching courses in Judaism and Hebrew Bible. He toured various cities as a lecturer and speaker. Starting in 1980, Kripke wrote a commentary on the weekly Torah portion for the Omaha Jewish Press.[1][11]

Awards

  • In 2000 Creighton University awarded him the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.[12]
  • In 2007 Kripke received the Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Award from the Conference for Inclusive Communities.[13]

Philanthropy

The Kripkes were active in philanthropy, which originated with their decision to invest with Warren Buffett. They got to know him and his wife Susan at the Beth El Synagogue. The couples had a lifelong friendship. Buffett' and Kripke's wives, the latter a published author, had common interests in education and community service.[14][15] Kripke's wife encouraged him to approach Buffett in hopes of helping them with their investments. As early investors with Buffett, the Kripkes benefitted greatly: their original investment of $70,000 increased to almost $25 million.[16][17] They donated much of their profits to philanthropic causes.[1][11][16]

Kripke Tower

The renovation of the Kripke Tower at Jewish Theological Seminary of America was funded in large part by a $7 million endowment by the Kripkes.[18][19] The Kripkes' close ties to the seminary originated from them having met and married there.[20]

Kripke Center

The Kripke Center at Creighton University was created to empower those among the faith communities to have better understanding of each other's differences and similarities.[21]

National Jewish Book Award

Kripke endowed the Kripke National Jewish Book Award for Education and Jewish Identity in memory of his wife Dorothy, who died in 2000.[22]

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Kripke and his wife gave nearly $1 million to the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. The money created the Dorothy and Myer Kripke Scholarship Fund,[23] which distributes $60,000 annually in scholarships and fellowships.[15]

Personal life

Kripke met his wife, Dorothy Karp, at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, while both were students there.[24] They married in 1937.[11] His children were Madeline Kripke, a book collector, and Saul Kripke, a philosopher.[25]

Works or publications

  • Kripke, Myer S. Cultural and Scientific Approaches to Jewish Ideas of God, Being Especially a Critique of the Theology of Mordecai M. Kaplan. Masters essay. Columbia University. Philosophy. 1937.
  • Kripke, Dorothy K, Myer S. Kripke, and Laszlo Matulay. Let's Talk About Loving: About Love, Sex, Marriage, and Family. New York: Ktav Pub. House, 1980. ISBN 978-0-870-68913-0
  • Kripke, Myer S. Insight and Interpretation: Reflections on the Weekly Sidrah. Chestnut Ridge, N.Y: Town House Press, 1988. ISBN 978-0-940-65315-3

See also

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Yowell, Paige (14 April 2014). "Rabbi Myer Kripke, 100: Longtime leader of Omaha synagogue championed interfaith dialogue". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Jacob M Kripke, Toledo Ward 4, Lucas, Ohio, United States; citing sheet 9B, family 233, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821408". United States Census, 1920. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Kripke, Harley (30 December 2008). The Kripke Family: History and Memories (Self-published family history). Retrieved 16 April 2014. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ "Oral Histories/Video Histories: Rabbi Myer Kripke, Rabbi Emeritus of Beth El Synagogue" (PDF). L'Dor V'Dor: Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. 1 (1). Winter 2002. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Krieger, Daniel (15 August 2013). "The Dame of Dictionaries". Narratively. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  6. ↑ McKinney, Bruce E. (September 2007). "The Gifted in Pursuit of the Valued". AE Monthly. Americana Exchange. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  7. ↑ Winchester, Simon (18 March 2012). "The Mongrel Speech of the Streets". The New York Review of Books. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Death Notice: Netta Kripke Stern". Stamford Advocate. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Myer S. Kripke, Obituary". New York Times. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Rabbi Myer S. Kripke: Obituary (Jan 21, 1914 – Apr 11, 2014)". Omaha World-Herald. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Kleinfield, N.R. (9 May 1997). "Enriched by His Friendship With an Agnostic, a Rabbi Finances a Storied Legacy". New York Times. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Rabbi Kripke, Manion Honored at May Commencement" (PDF). Creighton University Magazine: 7. Summer 2000. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  13. ↑ Roberts, Rosalee A. (2007). "Rabbi Kripke among the honorees for community organization's humanitarian awards, chaired by Todd and Betiana Simon". Jewish Press (Omaha). Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  14. ↑ Kripke, Dorothy K.; illustrated by Christine Tripp (2003). Let's talk about God. Los Angeles, CA: Alef Design Group. ISBN 978-1-881-28334-8. OCLC 52602784.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. 1 2 Holmes, Kristin E. (14 May 1997). "An Endowment Funded By Friendship Rabbi Myer And Dorothy Kripke's Message To A Wyncote Rabbinical School: Thanks A Million". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  16. 1 2 Kass, Doug (4 June 2013). "Kass: The Rabbi and the Oracle". The Street. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  17. ↑ "Long Before Israeli Deal, Buffett Made His Mark on Jewish Community". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 16 May 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  18. ↑ "Postings: At the Jewish Theological Seminary; Renewal for a Burnt-Out Tower". New York Times. 19 September 1999. Retrieved 16 April 2014. They got the project under way with a $7 million donation in 1997. The project, which is being financed by donations, still needs more than $4 million to see it through
  19. ↑ "Kripke Tower Renovation". Architizer. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  20. ↑ Gross, Jon (19 January 2014). "Happy Birthday Rabbi Kripke!". Rabbi in the Middle of America: Jewish Stuff from the Chief Rabbi of the State of Nebraska. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  21. ↑ "The Kripke Center: About the Center". Creighton University. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  22. ↑ Belmont, Jill and Lisa Lieb (24 January 2014). "Happy Birthday, Rabbi!". The Jewish Press (Omaha). Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  23. ↑ "Catalogue 2012–13" (PDF). Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. pp. viii, 73. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  24. ↑ Martin, Douglas (3 May 2014). "Rabbi Myer Kripke, Early Buffett Friend and Investor, Dies at 100". New York Times. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  25. ↑ Roberts, Sam (30 April 2020). "Madeline Kripke, Doyenne of Dictionaries, Is Dead at 76". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
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