Rabbi Sidney Greenberg, 85, Wrote On Prayers, Holidays, Spirituality
Rabbi Sidney Greenberg, 85, one of Conservative Judaism’s most respected writers on Jewish prayer, holidays and spirituality, died of a stroke Monday at his home in Manhattan.
A native New Yorker, Greenberg served as rabbi of Temple Sinai, now in the Philadelphia suburb of Dresher, for more than 50 years. Following his retirement in 1996, he moved to Manhattan, while continuing to serve as the congregation’s rabbi emeritus.
In addition to his 20-plus books on various Jewish topics, Greenberg was well known for his sermons.
He wrote regularly about religion for the Philadelphia Inquirer. In a moving article published in the newspaper following the 1998 death of his daughter, Shira Ruskay, Greenberg wrote: “I am grateful beyond words that she loved her life so deeply.”
Greenberg served as an army chaplain during World War II. He received a bachelor’s degree from Yeshiva University, before receiving his ordination from the Conservative movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary.
Greenberg is survived by his wife of 60 years, Hilda Weiss Greenberg; daughters Reena Keren and Adena Greenberg; a brother; nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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