Rabbi Harry Sherer, PhD, passed away on January 25th, 2017 with his wife Ruth by his side. Rabbi Sherer was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 1915. He received multiple degrees and licenses including BA, MA, EdD, PhD, MFT, and was an ordained Rabbi. Some of the schools he attended included Columbia, Harvard, and UCLA. Rabbi Sherer was a passionate educator. He worked as a teacher on the east and west coast. He also proudly served as the Dean of California Community Colleges in Sacramento. He was very well known for the time he served as a Rabbi for many synagogues on the west coast. In the 60's, he opened the first temple in Las Vegas, Nevada and converted Sammy Davis Jr. to Judaism. Rabbi Sherer predeceased by his 4 children. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Ruth, his 9 grandchildren, his 12 great grand children, and 1 great great grandchild. In his final years, he was cared for and supported by the wonderful staff at La Vida at Mission Viejo. Services will be held for Rabbi Sherer at Pacific View Memorial Park on Sunday January 29th at 10AM, where he will be buried. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that you donate to The Circle at the Chabad Jewish Center of Mission Viejo (949.770.1270).

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Published by Los Angeles Times on Jan. 28, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Harry Sherer

Sponsored by Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary.

6 Entries

Helena Brus

April 22, 2020

To the family of Dr. Sherer, On a sad note I searched the Web only to find that my beloved professor had left this world. Cleaning out my files today I came across his valued and much read letters from 1991-1997. I found out that I'd be graduating with high honors from Irvine Valley Colley when he replaced my tassels. Through the years and many moves, the letters boosted me out of loneliness and gave me the confidence to see my strength and uniqueness. Unfortunately, I stopped writing and we lost touch, but continued to grow from his belief that I was special and had the capacity to overcome many of my earlier self-doubts. G-d bless.

John and Jackie Kosewick

January 28, 2017

Rabbi Harry Sherer,
We will miss your gentle smile and the blessings you offered. It was a privilege to be your neighbor and friend all these years. We always enjoyed your many colorful stories of growing up in Brooklyn and the love you had for your dear mother and family. You served our Lord with faith and courage and now your work is complete. May our Lord make His face to shine upon you! Shalom...

Barry King

January 28, 2017

To all family and friends of Rabbi Harry Sherer,

Many of you, as well as I, became aware of the sad passing away of Rabbi Sherer in today's publication of his passing away in the Los Angeles Times.

I am saddened by this as follows:

Rabbi Sherer was highly respected by the congregation of Temple Beth Shalom in Las Vegas, Nevada (also known as the Jewish Community Center of Las Vegas).

Rabbi Sherer served our community in 1959 and somewhat thereafter. He presided over many services and happy (and perhaps unhappy) occasions.

As a footnote to the reference in the Obituary, the Las Vegas Jewish Community center was organized in the late 40's and our original, and only temple (then) was on 13th and Carson Street.

That said, I became a Bar Mitzvah in 1960 and Rabbi Sherer and Cantor Joseph Kohn presided over that mitzvah at the newly built temple replacing the original.

I still remember, even as a youngster, his introspective sermons on controversial issues of life, quite ahead of the times.

Rabbi Sherer was most inspirational and many of my young friends and now colleagues in Las Vegas, and elsewhere remember him in the best way.

While many doubt that there was [ever] Judaism in Las Vegas, then, in that era, or at any time, you may be misinformed.

Rabbi Sherer brought to us much inspiration and dedication to Judiasm and leadership.

All in my generation were very proud to be Jewish, and he was certainly that inspiration to all of us.

Alev Ha'Shalom Rabbi Sherer
You inspired me. May you rest in peace

Barry P. Kng, Esq.
Los Angeles, California

January 28, 2017

Dear friend. I worked with him at the college and we were great friends. He was brilliant. When I was in the hospital and very ill, he came to my bedside and as my rabbi said, "You will be well, you touched the beard of God and he decided to let you go and enjoy more life. A few hours later, all my vitals turned to normal and my recuperation began. He just smiled on his return visits to see me. May he rest in peace.
Craig Grossman (Irvine, ca)

steven tash

January 27, 2017

Long time colleague and dear friend. You were our spiritual inspiration. You always were a kind and generous man. Sharon and I know you will be looking down on us and our family.

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