Bernard LipnickBernie, as his family and friends called him, was born in Baltimore on April 29, 1926, to Thomas and Augusta Gussie Lipnick. His family was learned and devoted to Judaism and had a kosher, observant home. Bernie had a brother, Jerome, who was eight yars older and a strong role model. He remembers a happy childhood. Bernie was an excellent student in secular and Judaic studies. He graduated in January 1944, 2nd in his high school graduating class of over 1000 students and started Johns Hopkins University. He had many great teachers but most noteworthy was William Foxwell Albright, the foremost archeologist of his generation. He finished Johns Hopkins in three years, with a major in Semitic Studies, and started Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in 1947. In his second year Bernie tried to organize some of his fellow JTS students to go to Israel and join in the battle for its existence. The Chancellor made him an offer; finish the second year and go to Israel for your third year and study at Hebrew University and then return for your fourth year, take the comprehensive exams and be ordained. Bernie accepted and spent the academic year 1949-50 in Israel. In 1951 Bernie was ordained and from then on was known as Rabbi Bernard Lipnick His first position was with Congregation B'nai Amoona in St. Louis. He was engaged as Education Director. He remained with that congregation until he retired in 1991, moving to assistant Rabbi and then in 1962, senior rabbi. During his long career at B'nai Amoona he emphasized new approaches to informal Jewish education and earned a Doctorate in Education from Washington University in St. Louis. He participated in the Civil Rights struggle, including the March on Washington and the march from Selma to Montgomery. He was married twice. His first marriage ended in divorce. His second marriage, to Harriett Sofer, lasted 36 years, until his passing in 2010. In retirement, he and Harriet built a home in Idyllwild, California and traveled to over 100 countries on numerous cruise lines in his capacity a Jewish Chaplain. Read More Read Less