Jacob Pressman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacob Pressman
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| Born | October 26, 1919 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | October 1, 2015 (aged 95) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Education | University of Pennsylvania Jewish Theological Seminary of America |
| Occupation | Rabbi, columnist |
| Spouse(s) | Marjorie Steinberg (m. 1942; died 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
Jacob "Jack" Pressman (October 26, 1919 – October 1, 2015) was an American Conservative rabbi. He was a religious leader who helped many people. Rabbi Pressman served as the main rabbi of Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles, California, for 35 years, from 1950 to 1985. He also helped start the American Jewish University in Bel Air. For many years, he wrote a weekly newspaper column for The Beverly Hills Courier.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jacob Pressman was born on October 26, 1919, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were Solomon and Dora Pressman. He grew up in the Jewish faith and attended a synagogue called Temple Beth Am in Philadelphia.
He went to the University of Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1940. After that, he studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. In 1945, he became a conservative rabbi. This meant he was ready to lead a Jewish community.
Rabbi and Community Leader
Rabbi Pressman started his career in New York City. He served as a rabbi at the Forest Hills Jewish Center from 1944 to 1946.
In 1946, he moved to Los Angeles, California. There, he worked as an associate rabbi at Sinai Temple until 1950.
In 1950, Rabbi Pressman became the leader of the Olympic Jewish Center. This center was later renamed Temple Beth Am in 1957. He helped the synagogue grow and serve its community. He created Beth Am Manor, which provided affordable homes for senior citizens. He also started the Rabbi Jacob Pressman Academy. This academy included a nursery, elementary, and high school connected to the synagogue.
Helping Others and Social Justice
Rabbi Pressman cared deeply about people's rights. In 1964, he led a campaign called 'Save Soviet Jewry'. This campaign helped people learn about the struggles of Jewish people in the Soviet Union. It led to more Jewish people being able to move to Israel.
In 1965, he joined Martin Luther King Jr. in the Selma to Montgomery marches. These marches were an important part of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
Founding and Supporting Institutions
Rabbi Pressman was involved in many important organizations. He helped start Camp Ramah in California, a popular summer camp in Ojai. He also co-founded the Brandeis-Bardin Camp Institute.
He played a key role in creating the Los Angeles Hebrew High School. He was also a co-founder of the University of Judaism. This university is now known as the American Jewish University (AJU). In 2004, AJU honored him with the Rabbi Simon Greenberg Award.
Rabbi Pressman was the first president of the Maple Counseling Centre. This non-profit group in Beverly Hills, California offers free counseling to people. He also wrote a weekly column for The Beverly Hills Courier and published two books.
Family Life
Jacob Pressman married Marjorie Steinberg in 1942. They lived in Beverly Hills, California. They had three children. Their son, Joel, was a performing arts teacher at Beverly Hills High School for many years. Their second son, Daniel, also became a rabbi. Their daughter, Judith, moved to Israel and helped start a community village called Ma'ale Tzvia.
Later Years and Passing
Rabbi Pressman passed away in Los Angeles on October 1, 2015. He was 95 years old. His funeral was held at Temple Beth Am, the synagogue he led for so many years. He was buried at the Eden Memorial Park Cemetery, a Jewish cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles.
