Condolences to the Dresner and Entire Temple Beth Tikvah Family

We are heartbroken to share the news that our beloved Rabbi Emeritus, Israel Dresner, departed this world yesterday, Thursday, January 13, 2022, having left it better than the one he was born into.  He was ninety-two, eight months, and twenty-two days old – something he would want you to know as someone for whom facts and accuracy mattered a great deal.

Rabbi Dresner blessed our congregation for twenty-six years as its longest serving Rabbi.  He is survived by his sisters, Phyllis Meiner and Eileen Dresner, by his children Tamar (Mark) and Avi (Natasha) Dresner and by his two grandsons, Lev and Sasha Dresner.

The Funeral service will be held on Sunday January 16th at 11:00 am at Temple Beth Tikvah.  Family and close friends who will be speaking at the funeral are welcome to attend the service in person and everyone else is welcome to attend via Zoom by clicking this link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84683835036?pwd=S0RnUVVXcVhmM1YrZ25sQk5COER2Zz09

Passcode:  968528

All are welcome to join the virtual Shivah services on 1/16-1/20, and 1/22 & 1/23 at 7:00 p.m.  Each evening will begin with a brief 15-20 minute mourners’ service, followed by one or more featured speakers after which members of the community will be invited to extend their condolences and share their reminiscences.  All those who wish to speak should express their desire to do so to the host through the chat feature in Zoom and will be informed when it is their turn.   

In order to avoid each night’s Shivah being like one of Rabbi Dresner’s famously endless services, every effort will be made to keep the service and speakers to 90 minutes total.  

Due to the anticipated number of speakers, anyone who does not get the opportunity to speak on any given night will be put at the top of the list of community speakers for the following evening.  For that same reason, those who wish to speak are encouraged to attend later in the week of mourning. 

Join the Shivah at this link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83334922731?pwd=T3JQcks3Rm9aN2tJc2dwcnovMEcwQT09

Passcode: 677605

The schedule of Service Leaders and Guest Speakers is as follows:

Donations can be made in Rabbi Dresner’s memory to any one or more of the following organizations and causes: Temple Beth Tikvah Rabbi Israel Dresner Tikkun Olam Fund; The NAACP Legal Defense Fund; Partners For Progressive Israel; “The Rabbi & The Reverend” documentary his children are producing about his Civil Rights work with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Please make a check out to Baker Street Productions, put “Dresner Documentary” in the memo line and mail it to 15 Baker Street, Wayne, NJ 07470.

We offer our sincere condolences to the Dresner family.  May they be comforted among the mourners of Zion and may Rabbi Dresner’s memory forever be a blessing and an inspiration.

To read Rabbi Dresner’s full obituary click here.