Myer S. Kripke facts for kids

Myer Samuel Kripke (January 21, 1914 – April 11, 2014) was an American rabbi, a wise scholar, and a generous helper (philanthropist). He lived and worked mostly in Omaha, Nebraska.

Early Life and Family

Myer Samuel Kripke was born on January 21, 1914. His hometown was Toledo, Ohio. His parents were Jacob "J. Michael" Kripke and Nettie Kripke. They had seven children in their family. Myer's parents came from Poland. His family settled in Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1860s.

Myer Kripke married Dorothy Karp. They met while studying at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. They had three children together:

• Saul A. Kripke, who became a famous philosopher.
• Madeline Kripke, who was a bookseller and expert on words.
• Netta Stern, who worked as a social worker.

Myer Kripke lived to be 100 years old. He passed away in Omaha, Nebraska, and was buried at Beth El Cemetery.

Myer Kripke's Career

In 1930, Myer Kripke moved to New York. He studied at New York University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He earned several degrees, including a master's degree in philosophy from Columbia University. He also received his rabbinical degree.

Kripke served as a rabbi in several cities. These included Racine, Wisconsin, Patchogue, New York, and New London, Connecticut.

Rabbi in Omaha

In 1946, Rabbi Kripke became the leader at the Beth El synagogue in Omaha, Nebraska. This synagogue follows Conservative Judaism. He served as the main rabbi there until 1975. After that, he was named "rabbi emeritus," which means he held an honored title even after stepping down.

From 1976 to 1990, Rabbi Kripke also taught at Creighton University. He was a professor of theology. He taught classes about Judaism and the Hebrew Bible. He also traveled to many cities to give talks and lectures. Starting in 1980, he wrote articles for the Omaha Jewish Press. These articles explained the weekly Torah portion.

Special Awards

Rabbi Kripke received special honors for his work:

• In 2000, Creighton University gave him an honorary degree. It was called Doctor of Humane Letters.
• In 2007, he received the Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Award. This award recognized his work for communities.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

Myer and Dorothy Kripke were very active in helping others. This is called philanthropy. Their ability to give a lot of money came from a smart investment. They invested with a famous investor named Warren Buffett. They became good friends with him and his wife, Susan.

The Kripkes were among the first people to invest with Warren Buffett. Their first investment was $70,000. Over time, this grew to almost $25 million! They decided to donate much of this money to help many important causes.

Kripke Tower

The Kripkes gave $7 million to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. This money helped to renovate the Kripke Tower. This seminary was special to them because it's where they met and got married.

Kripke Center

The Kripke Center was created at Creighton University. The Kripkes helped fund this center. Its goal is to help people from different faiths understand each other better. It focuses on their differences and similarities.

National Jewish Book Award

Rabbi Kripke created an award in memory of his wife, Dorothy. She passed away in 2000. This award is called the Kripke National Jewish Book Award for Education and Jewish Identity.

Scholarship Fund

The Kripkes also gave nearly $1 million to the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. This college is in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. Their gift created the Dorothy and Myer Kripke Scholarship Fund. This fund gives out $60,000 every year. It helps students pay for their studies and research.

See also

• Jews in Omaha, Nebraska