Myer S. Kripke

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 "came from Lithuania and were married in Cleveland, Ohio, somewhere around 1865-1870."^[4]

Kripke and his wife, Dorothy, had three children: American philosopher and logician Saul A. Kripke, Madeline F. 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. Kripke graduated from New York University Phi Beta Kappa and earned a master's degree in philosophy from Columbia University. He held "master's and doctoral degrees, as well as his rabbinical degree," from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City. He was senior class president at the seminary in 1937.^[1] In a class on Jewish religion at the seminary, he met a student from Brooklyn named Dorothy Karp (who later became his wife). The class was taught by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, founder of the Reconstructionist movement, "a branch of Judaism that stresses the religion’s historical context instead of a supernatural God."^[11] They were married at the seminary in 1937, a week after he was ordained.^[12]

Kripke was a rabbi at synagogues in Racine, Wisconsin, Patchogue, New York on Long Island, and New London, Connecticut.^[1] In 1946 he accepted a position at Beth El Synagogue in Omaha.^[12] "As he tended to his religious duties, his wife wrote children's books that elucidated Jewish beliefs. One of them was called Let's Talk About God."^[12] The investor Warren Buffett's wife, Susie, "very much enjoyed it [Dorothy's book]. She learned that the author lived in Omaha, two blocks from the Buffetts. She called her and was invited over. Just like that they became friends," a friendship that impacted Kripke's life and enabled him to leave a philanthropic legacy in Omaha and elsewhere.^[12]

From 1946-76 Kripke was the spiritual leader of the conservative Jewish Beth El Synagogue in Omaha. 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][12]

Awards

• In 2000 Creighton University recognized Kripke’s many achievements by awarding him the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa^[13]
• In 2007 Kripke received the Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Award from the Conference for Inclusive Communities, the Midlands chapter of the former National Conference for Christians and Jews^[14]

Philanthropy

The Kripkes were active in philanthropy, which was based upon a decision to invest with their friend Warren Buffett. "The couple had known Buffett since the 1950s, playing bridge together and celebrating Thanksgivings. Dorothy Kripke urged her husband for several years to approach Buffett about investing their modest savings, but the rabbi resisted, saying the stake was too small to interest Buffett." As early investors with Buffett, the Kripkes benefitted greatly and were able to donate much of that money.^[1][12]

On how the Kripkes met the Buffetts: "It was Dorothy Kripke's role as a respected author of family-oriented books about spiritual and moral issues that led to the first meeting between the Kripkes and the Buffetts. Susie Buffett was an admirer of Dorothy Kripke's book Let's Talk About God.^[15] When she discovered that the Kripkes lived nearby in Omaha, Susie Buffett introduced herself. A long friendship between the families began."^[16]

"Rabbi Kripke never earned more than $35,000 in any year, but the Kripkes had been saving their money and, combined with an inheritance, had accumulated nearly $70,000. Myer Kripke's wife Dorothy implored him to 'invest the money with your friend Warren.' Three years later, he got the courage to ask Warren to invest his worldly savings, and Warren accepted the money into his partnership. When Warren closed his partnership, he suggested that the rabbi roll his investment into Berkshire Hathaway's shares, which he did."^[17] This original investment of about $70,000 was now worth almost $25 million.^[17] The Kripkes, "despite their enormous worth, were never big spenders. They never owned any real estate and lived in an apartment in Omaha that they rented for less than $1,000 a month."^[17][18]

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.^[19][20] The seminary hosted their wedding in the courtyard and Rabbi Kripke had said that the gift was to repay them for their kindness.^[21]

Kripke Center

The Kripke Center at Creighton University is "dedicated to facilitating scholarly activity in the areas of religion and society. Special attention is given to promoting understanding between and among faith communities, including especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam," and in 2005 was named in honor of the Kripkes.^[22]

National Jewish Book Award

Kripke endowed the Kripke National Jewish Book Award for Education and Jewish Identity in memory of his wife, Dorothy.^[23]

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Kripke and his wife gave nearly $1 million to the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. "The gift will be used to establish the Dorothy and Myer Kripke Scholarship Fund,^[24] which will award about $60,000 annually in scholarships and fellowships. It is the second $1 million gift in the school's 29-year history."^[16]

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

• Jews in Omaha, Nebraska

Notes and references