Myer S. Kripke
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Myer Samuel Kripke (January 21, 1914 – April 11, 2014) was an American rabbi, scholar, and philanthropist. He was based in
Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest ...
.


Early life

Kripke was born on January 21, 1914 in
Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Ohio, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnat ...
, to parents Jacob "J. Michael" Kripke and Nettie Kripke (née Goldman). Kripke was one of seven children: Harold, Sidney, Albert, Homer, Shirley, and Joseph. His father bought and sold containers (bottles, barrels). Kripke's parents were from Poland. In the 1860s, his family settled in
Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along ...
,
Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
. Kripke and his wife, Dorothy, had three children: American philosopher and logician Saul A. Kripke,
Madeline Kripke Madeline Faith Kripke (September 9, 1943 – April 25, 2020) was an American book collector who held one of the world's largest collections of dictionaries. Early life and education Madeline Kripke was born on September 9, 1943, in New London ...
, a bookseller, editor and authority on dictionaries and slang, and Netta Stern, who was a social worker and psychotherapist. Kripke died at the age of 100 in
Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest ...
. He was buried at Beth El Cemetery.


Career

In 1930 Kripke moved to New York to study at
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then- Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, th ...
and the
Jewish Theological Seminary of America The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is a Conservative Jewish education organization in New York City, New York. It is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studie ...
. He graduated from New York University
Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal ...
and earned a master's degree in philosophy from
Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
. 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. Kripke was a rabbi at synagogues in
Racine, Wisconsin Racine ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River. Racine is situated 22 miles (35 km) south of Milwaukee and approximately 60 ...
,
Patchogue, New York Patchogue (, ) is a village in Suffolk County, New York. The population was 11,798 at the time of the 2010 census. Patchogue is part of the town of Brookhaven, on the south shore of Long Island, adjoining Great South Bay. It is officially known ...
on Long Island, and
New London, Connecticut New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decade ...
. In 1946, Kripke became the Rabbi at the
Conservative Jewish Conservative Judaism, known as Masorti Judaism outside North America, is a Jewish religious movement which regards the authority of ''halakha'' (Jewish law) and traditions as coming primarily from its people and community through the generatio ...
Beth El synagogue in
Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest ...
. He held this position from 1946 to 1975. In 1975, he was named rabbi emeritus at Beth El. 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.''


Awards

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


Philanthropy

The Kripkes were active in philanthropy, which originated with their decision to invest with
Warren Buffett Warren Edward Buffett ( ; born August 30, 1930) is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is currently the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He is one of the most successful investors in the world and has a net ...
. They got to know him and his wife
Susan Susan is a feminine given name, from Persian "Susan" (lily flower), from Egyptian '' sšn'' and Coptic ''shoshen'' meaning "lotus flower", from Hebrew ''Shoshana'' meaning "lily" (in modern Hebrew this also means "rose" and a flower in general), ...
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. 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. They donated much of their profits to philanthropic causes.


Kripke Tower

The renovation of the Kripke Tower at
Jewish Theological Seminary of America The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is a Conservative Jewish education organization in New York City, New York. It is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studie ...
was funded in large part by a $7 million endowment by the Kripkes. The Kripkes' close ties to the seminary originated from them having met and married there.


Kripke Center

The Kripke Center
at
Creighton University Creighton University is a private Jesuit research university in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In 2015 the university enrolled 8,393 graduate and undergra ...
was created to empower those among the faith communities to have better understanding of each other's differences and similarities.


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.


Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Kripke and his wife gave nearly $1 million to the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in
Wyncote, Pennsylvania Wyncote is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It borders the northwestern and northeastern section of Philadelphia. Wyncote is located 11 miles from Center City Philadelphia at the southeaster ...
. The money created the Dorothy and Myer Kripke Scholarship Fund, which distributes $60,000 annually in scholarships and fellowships.


Personal life

Kripke met his wife, Dorothy Karp, at the
Jewish Theological Seminary of America The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is a Conservative Jewish education organization in New York City, New York. It is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studie ...
, while both were students there. They married in 1937. His children were
Madeline Kripke Madeline Faith Kripke (September 9, 1943 – April 25, 2020) was an American book collector who held one of the world's largest collections of dictionaries. Early life and education Madeline Kripke was born on September 9, 1943, in New London ...
, a book collector, and
Saul Kripke Saul Aaron Kripke (; November 13, 1940 – September 15, 2022) was an American philosopher and logician in the analytic tradition. He was a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and e ...
, a philosopher.


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. * Kripke, Myer S. ''Insight and Interpretation: Reflections on the Weekly Sidrah.'' Chestnut Ridge, N.Y: Town House Press, 1988.


See also

* Jews in Omaha, Nebraska


Notes and references

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kripke, Myer S. 1914 births 2014 deaths American centenarians American Conservative rabbis American educators American people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent Burials at Beth El Cemetery (Ralston, Nebraska) Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni Jews and Judaism in Omaha, Nebraska Jewish Theological Seminary of America alumni
Myer Myer (stylised MYER, sometimes known as Myers) is an Australian mid-range to upscale department store chain. It trades in all Australian states and one of Australia's two self-governing territories. Myer retails a broad range of products ...
New York University alumni Religious leaders from Nebraska 20th-century American philanthropists Men centenarians 21st-century American rabbis