RABBI MORRIS GOLDFARB / 1914-2004
Rabbi Morris Goldfarb, shown at the May 1 service celebrating his 90th birthday, moved to Hawaii 12 years ago after retiring from Cornell University.
Temple scholar
embodied erudition
Rabbi Morris Goldfarb, a teacher for 70 years and scholar-in-residence at Temple Emanu-El since 1995, died yesterday in the Queen's Medical Center. He was 90.
"He was a wonderful listener who provided incredible insight into one's own words," Gov. Linda Lingle said. "His blessing to us all was God allowed him to do what he loved until his last day."
At his 90th-birthday celebration at the Honolulu synagogue last month, Goldfarb heard an outpouring of praise, thanks and love from friends and family.
He told the May 1 gathering, "Teaching has enriched and enhanced my life, and I hope I have given special dimension to your lives. My work is to open the doors of the treasure house of Judaism, its values and its inspiring stories ... guideposts to a meaningful and fulfilling life."
Goldfarb and his late wife, Helen, moved to Hawaii 12 years ago after retiring from the Cornell University Jewish campus ministry Hillel.
The rabbi transcended divisions in the Jewish community, said Temple Emanu-El cantor Ken Aronowitz. Goldfarb prayed Saturdays with the Conservative Congregation Sof Ma'arav, and he taught two weekly adult classes at the Reform temple.
Among the students in the weekly Torah study was University of Hawaii law school Dean Avi Soifer. "He was a remarkable example of someone who knew a tremendous amount yet was open to new things. His mind was full of information and open to new information."
"He was an optimist," Soifer said. "He knew what was wrong with the world, and it didn't slow down his sense of joy."
Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Avi Magid and Aronowitz made sure the birthday service was full of music with three cantors, a guitar-and-drums band and the Hawaii Pacific University choir.
"He was very much a believer in the power of the medium of music enhancing the experience of prayer," said Aronowitz. "How wonderful everyone from every part of the Jewish community came and he was there to take a great deal of pleasure from that."
"He had a wonderful energy. His mind was so clear," Aronowitz said.
Magid said: "One thing for sure, he just enjoyed the whole idea of being a rabbi in its true meaning, which is 'my teacher.' When I kidded him about when had he had enough, his response was that teaching is what kept him alive. We were planning to start an oral history about his life."
Goldfarb's lessons and conversations were full of references to modern authors as well as scriptures and historical theologians. In recent years he added cyberspace to his eclectic reading field. "He was always asking, 'Did you read this?'" Magid said.
"One of his favorite themes was cooperation between God and man," said student Fran Margulies. "He would modify the prayer over bread to include not just thanks for giving us the bread, but for teaching us how to bake it."
Goldfarb was born in the Bronx in New York City, one of eight children of immigrant parents from Poland. He graduated from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Institute.
He is survived by daughters Judy Weinberg, of Toledo, Ohio, and Deborah Washofsky, of Kailua; brothers Harry, of New Jersey, and Harvey, of Florida; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be 10 a.m. tomorrow at Temple Emanu-El, followed by a meal of consolation. Burial in Mililani Cemetery will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Rabbi Morris and Helen Goldfarb Education Fund at Temple Emanu-El.
