Rabbi Pauline Tamari

1946 - 2021

WOODSTOCK- Rabbi Pauline Tamari, 74, of Woodstock, N.Y., peacefully passed away Thursday, May 27, 2021, surrounded by her family. Born June 16, 1946 in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Morris Lipson and Dorothy Newman Lipson of Delray Beach, Fla. She graduated from Yeshiva Rambam and Lawrence High School, and received her doctorate in Speech and Language Pathology. She taught at Queens College and Columbia University and was Executive Director of Starting Early, an early intervention program for children. She pioneered model programs for autistic toddlers and preschoolers and for medically fragile babies. She was founder and president of Early Childhood Resources where she developed “Bright Babies,” a curriculum for children from birth to age three. Rabbi Pauline was ordained as a Rabbi in 2020 and provided leadership in a variety of chavurot. She developed programs for Spiritual Parenting and Nurturing Spirituality in Young Children and served at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation and Temple Israel in NY. She was a writer, liturgist, activist and teacher, and truly lived to help others. Rabbi Pauline was a passionate, spiritual, fierce and bright flame that has ignited many. In addition to her mother, Rabbi Pauline is survived by her children, Ari Tamari, Rachel Tamari, Raphael Tamari, Jeremy Tamari, and Dawit Weldegebriel; her brother, Michael Lipson; her sister, Roberta Lipson; and grandchildren, Kaylee, Leah, Stella, Moshe, Mende, Bellatrix, Aiden, Cassius, Malka, and Ruby. Pauline was also predeceased by her beloved dog, Mizeh. A Funeral Service was held at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation with Rabbi Jonathan Kligler, officiating. Interment followed in Montrepose Cemetery. Donations in Pauline Tamari’s name to the following organizations that were very dear to her heart would be an honor: Woodstock Jewish Congregation- 1682 Glasco Tnpk. Woodstock, N.Y., 12498 (wjcshul.org) Temple Israel of Catskill- 220 Spring St. Catskill, NY 12414 (templeisraelofcatskill.org)Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal- P.O. Box 35118 Philadelphia, Pa., 19128 (aleph.org) Shalom Center- Yerusha- 6711 Lincoln Dr. Philadelphia, Pa., 19119 (yerusha.org) Simpson-Hammerl Funeral Home is honored to assist the family of Pauline with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family of Pauline by visiting www.gatheringus.com or may be mailed to Rachel Tamari 945 Mill Creek Dr., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 33410. https://www.lastingmemories.com/rabbi-pauline-tamari