Chancellor Schwartz Shares Her Thoughts on the Passing of Robert S. Rifkind (z”l), Beloved Board Member
It is with profound sadness that I share the news that Robert S. Rifkind z”l, JTS Board of Trustee member, died late yesterday. A man of unwavering integrity, intellect, and boundless generosity, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy of advocacy, leadership, and enduring commitment to justice. All who had the privilege of knowing him will remember his towering intellect, brilliant mind, caring heart, and his dedication to making the world a better place.
Bob was a true friend and cherished advisor to JTS for over 35 years. In addition to being a dedicated member of our Board of Trustees, he was awarded an honorary degree in 1998. He was a staunch advocate of academic rigor and excellence and did so much to ensure that it flourish as a key anchor of our mission.
Just a few months ago, he capped decades of generous support by establishing a chair in his name, the Robert S. Rifkind Professorship, to support a faculty position in the field of American Jewish history. Over the next decades, countless students, academia, and the wider public will benefit from the final act of support. As I recently shared when announcing the professorship—words that resonate even more deeply today—”The Rifkind Professorship will ensure that JTS students from across our academic programs will graduate with an appreciation for the complexity and richness of the American Jewish experience, enabling them to locate their own lives within its rich tapestry and to approach contemporary challenges with perspective and clarity.”
Upon hearing of his death, Alan Levine, Board Chair, shared, “This is a time of great sorrow. The Jewish people are weaker today than yesterday. Bob guided JTS in so many important ways for the nearly 40 years he served on the Board. He was a devoted leader and a sincere and honest friend.”
A distinguished scholar, Bob graduated from Yale College in 1958 before earning his J.D. from Harvard University Law School in 1961. His remarkable legal career included serving at Cravath, Swaine & Moore and as an Assistant to the Solicitor General in the United States Department of Justice. Over the years, he became one of the most respected legal minds in his field.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Bob was deeply committed to Jewish causes. He played a leading role in numerous Jewish philanthropic and advocacy organizations, including the American Jewish Committee (AJC), Leo Baeck Institute, The Jewish Week, Brandeis University, the Jerusalem Foundation, the Center for Jewish History, Cardozo Law School, the National Foundation for Jewish Culture, Charles H. Revson Foundation, and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies.
His lifelong dedication to justice and humanitarian efforts was inspired by his father, Simon, also a renowned lawyer. We are privileged to honor his legacy and exemplary life at the annual JTS Judge Simon H. Rifkind Award Luncheon, established in 1996, which will be held later this month.
Bob truly was a model of humanity, wisdom, integrity, and compassion. May his memory continue the blessings of his life.
