Dr. Baruch Poupko Rabbi

Rabbi Dr. Baruch A. POUPKO Rabbi Dr. Baruch A. Poupko passed away in Seattle, WA Wednesday morning after a lengthy illness. Husband of the late Gilda Twersky-Novoseller Poupko and survived by Miriam Bak Poupko. Father of Rabbi Yehiel and Tzivia Poupko of Chicago, Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Poupko of Jerusalem, Debby and Rabbi Yeshaya Steinberger of Jerusalem, Rivy Poupko Kletenik, Head of School of the Seattle Hebrew Academy and Rabbi Moshe Kletenik, rabbi of Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath Congregation in Seattle, and Rabbi Reuben Poupko of Montreal. Grandfather of Yehuda and Nicole Poupko, Drs. Kevin and Elisheva Schreiber, Rabbi Chaim and Shoshana Poupko, Rabbi Aaron and Chaya Segal, Dr. Dov and Sara Malka Reichman, Rabbi Eliezer and Margueya Poupko, Rabbi Elchanan Zakkai Poupko, Chana Rivka Poupko, Dovid Shlomo and Achinoam Poupko, Rabbi Dovid and Rochie Kleinerman, Dovid and Sara Steinberger, Rabbi Eliezer and Chavi Steinberger, Udi and Margalit Steinberger, and Rabbi Nechemia and Yehudit Steinberger, Rabbi Chaim and Pesha Loike, Rabbi Shya Kletenik, Gilah Kletenik and Eliezer and Devorah Kletenik, Rabbi Avi and Shifra Poupko, Elliot and Tamar Smith, Seth and Hindy Galena, Adina Leah Poupko and Eliezer Poupko and forty-one great-grandchildren. Predeceased by his parents and his brothers and sisters: Rabbi Eliezer and Pesha Chaya Poupko, Rabbi Yitzchak and Shifra Poupko, Rabbi Abraham and Sonia Poupko, Rabbi Reuven Poupko, Rabbi Mordechai and Claire Poupko, Rabbi Mordechai and twin-sister Basya Savitsky, Rosalie Schwartz, Rabbi Shlomo and Esther Poupko, Rabbi Sholom and Rose Novoseller, Rabbi Harold Novoseller, Harry and Martha Stern. Survived by brothers and sisters-in-law; Felice Poupko, Rabbi Gedalia Schwartz and Rabbi Moshe and Shirley Novoseller. Born in Velizh, Russia in 1917. Ordained by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University, 1941. PhD University of Pittsburgh, 1952. Past National President of Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi. Pioneer in campaign for liberation of Soviet Jewry. Led first Rabbinic delegation to the Soviet Union to bear witness and express solidarity with Soviet Jews. One of the early architects of Orthodoxy in America. Widely published author and sought-after lecturer. Among others, Rabbi Poupko authored In the Shadow of the Kremlin and edited and co-edited 38 sermon volumes of the Rabbinical Council of America and the scholarly Anglo-Hebrew volume Eidenu in memory of the founder and first president of Yeshiva University, Dr. Bernard Revel. Rabbi for over 60 years at Shaare Torah Congregation in Pittsburgh, PA, he was a vibrant communal leader, instrumental in founding Hillel Academy as well as other Jewish institutions in the city. Rabbi Poupko has instilled in his family a passionate commitment to the Jewish people and State of Israel. His life was characterized by buoyant optimism, stirring eloquence and enduring dignity. Funeral Service to take place at Eretz Hachaim cemetery in Beit Shemesh, Israel. The family requests that contributions be made to Shaare Torah Congregation 2319 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.