Rabbi George Sobelman

RABBI GEORGE SOBELMAN
REHOVOT, ISRAEL - Rabbi George Sobelman died peacefully at home on Sept. 11, 2010 amidst his family in Rehovot, Israel. He had been an Assistant Hillel Rabbi at Cornell University from 1965 until 1969 and also served Ithaca College.
Born on Dec. 8, 1942 in New York City to Julius and Jeanette Sobelman he attended Yeshiva University and Hebrew University and was ordained in 1965. He married Nina Lazar in 1965 after a courtship begun in Jerusalem where both were students.
Upon the move to Ithaca Nina made important contributions as the Music Critic for the Ithaca Journal and as Principal of the Religious School at Temple Beth-El. At Cornell George strongly advocated for a Jewish Studies program.
George is remembered as a very lively boy who was a natural leader of children. Years later, his gift for inspiring personal connection was recognized when he was selected by a committee of students to become the first Jewish chaplain at Wesleyan University where he and Nina provided a raucously playful and spiritual Jewish community experience for several generations of Wesleyan students. He also taught Modern Israeli Literature and was a mentor to many.
George and Nina had always planned to raise their children in Israel. With a young and active family they settled in Rehovot in 1973, shortly before the Yom Kippur War. The birth of their fourth child two years later sealed the bond with Israel. George maintained his connection with Wesleyan, spending a fall semester teaching for several years and maintaining contact with his own group of students who are welcome in the family home to this day.
A student of clinical psychology, George also had a practice as a family therapist, edited a Journal "Ba' Mishpacha" and was a consultant for social workers in this endeavor. His own family thrived with George as a dedicated hands-on father, grandfather and uncle.
George is survived by his loving and caring wife Nina Lazar Sobelman; his Ithaca born daughter Batsheva (Gili Shimon); grandchildren Aviv and Yoav of Har-adar, Israel; Ithaca born son Ariel (Karin) Nadav, Yahel and Alma newly returned to Israel from four years in Redmond WA., Gabriella (Eran Himmel) Yardeni and Yaari of Rehovot, and Daniel (Lilach Feldman) and Gayil of Rehovot.
He leaves his sister Rosalind and brother-in-law Howard Feinstein of Ithaca and nephews Jonathan, Eric and Roger and their families.
He also leaves his brother-in-law Matthew Lazar and wife Vivian of New York City.
In keeping with his enthusiasm for life long learning and his generosity he had arranged to donate his body to the Tel Aviv University Medical School.
If moved to give a gift in George's memory, the family suggests consideration of a donation to the Jewish Studies Collection at the Cornell University Library - Library AAND - 130 E. Seneca St. Ithaca, NY 14850.
Also dear to his heart was The Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Synagogue - PO Box 15058 - Rehovot 76150 - Israel.